Business

ENGINE: Europe & Africa Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook

Bunkering resumes in Gibraltar; ARA fuel oil inventories slip to six-week lows; no bunker backlog in Algoa Bay.

Published

4 years ago

September 15, 2022

Admin

The following article regarding Europe and Africa bunker fuel availability has been provided by online marine fuel procurement platform ENGINE for post on Singapore bunkering publication Manifold Times:

14 September 2022

Bunkering resumes in Gibraltar
ARA fuel oil inventories slip to six-week lows
No bunker backlog in Algoa Bay

Northwest Europe

LSMGO has become more readily available in the ARA hub with several suppliers now offering prompt deliveries, sources say. The recommended lead time for LSMGO delivery in Rotterdam and other ports in the ARA is three days.

Securing VLSFO and HSFO stems for prompt dates can be more difficult, especially for HSFO. Some suppliers are running low on fuel oil in storage and await resupply, sources say. While VLSFO requires a lead time of around 5-7 days, HSFO now needs seven days at the very least.

Independently held fuel oil inventories in the ARA fell by 60,000 bbls to 7.13 million bbls in the week ending 8 September, according to Global Insights. Signs of dwindling Russian inflows seem to have contributed to draw down stocks.

According to cargo tracker Vortexa, Russian fuel oil imports accounted for about a quarter of ARA’s fuel oil imports in July, but nothing was imported throughout August or so far this month.

The cargo tracker has instead picked up fuel oil cargoes flowing into the ARA from the UK, Greece, Germany, Saudi Arabia and other sources. The UK has been the biggest exporter to the ARA in since last month.

With European Union countries preparing to phase out imports of Russian oil products within eight months after an embargo was approved in June, refineries and oil traders in northwest Europe will eventually switch to non-Russian oil.

The region’s gasoil stocks have decreased by 480,000 bbls, to 12.39 million bbls last week.

Some suppliers can offer limited quantities of LSMGO and HSFO off Skaw. Recommended lead times for the two grades are around seven days, a source says.

Bunker fuel availability remains normal in Hamburg and recommended lead times are about five days across all grades.

LSMGO availability is normal in Bremerhaven, but securing VLSFO and HSFO deliveries for prompt dates can be difficult, a source says.

Mediterranean

Bunker operations resumed in Gibraltar from last Friday evening, after being suspended for 10 days. Two vessels collided in Gibraltar on 31 August, which caused an oil spill and forced the Gibraltar Port Authority (GPA) to suspend bunkering along with other port operations.

Availability of LSMGO and VLSFO has normalised in Gibraltar and Algeciras, with some suppliers offering prompt deliveries. Recommended lead times are about 4-6 days.

Securing HSFO stems for prompt dates can be slightly difficult in Gibraltar Strait ports, sources say.

With bunkering mostly resumed in Gibraltar, congestion has eased in the nearby ports of Algeciras, Ceuta and Las Palmas. Bunker calls were diverted from Gibraltar to these ports while bunkering was suspended.

Nine vessels were scheduled to arrive for bunkers in Ceuta on Wednesday, down from a peak of 12 last week, shipping agent Jose Salama & Cia says.

In Malta, nine vessels were due to arrive for bunkers on Wednesday, down from a high of 15 last week, according to Seatrans Shipping agency. Bunker supply is said to be normal in Malta, where suppliers can delivery for prompt dates, a source says.

LSMGO availability is said to be normal in Las Palmas, while VLSFO is tight for prompt delivery, sources say.

Africa

Bunker supply is said to be normal in South Africa’s Algoa Bay, a source says. No backlog was reported in the region on Wednesday amid conducive weather conditions, according to Rennies Ships Agency. Five vessels are scheduled to arrive for bunkers this week, it says.

VLSFO and LSMGO availability is normal in Durban, and some suppliers can offer delivery for prompt dates, a source says. Recommended lead times for the two grades in Durban are around seven days.

By Shilpa Sharma

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 15 September, 2022

Legal

Shell Singapore charged over Pulau Bukom oil leaks, reporting delays

Shell faces four charges under Singapore’s Prevention of Pollution of the Sea Act over two 2024 oil discharge incidents at its Pulau Bukom facility.

Published

23 hours ago

September 25, 2026

Admin

2 MPA craft (left) supporting Shell craft in the clean up operations of the oil sheens taken on 28 Dec 9am

Shell Singapore has been charged over two incidents in 2024 involving oily mixtures discharged into Singapore waters from its facilities at Pulau Bukom, according to media reports on Tuesday (22 September).

The company faces four charges under the Prevention of Pollution of the Sea Act, including allegations that it failed to report the discharges to the port master immediately.

The first incident occurred on 20 October 2024, when approximately 40 metric tonnes (mt) of oily mixture was discharged through a hole in a pipeline at the Shell Singapore Energy and Chemicals Park at about 8am.

Shell is accused of reporting the incident to the port master at about 12.55pm, several hours after the discharge occurred.

The second incident took place between 26 and 28 December 2024. An estimated 485kg to 956kg of oil mixture was discharged into Singapore waters from the same facility.

Shell is accused of failing to report the incident immediately, with notification to the port master made at about 11.50am on 26 December 2024, according to the charges.

Singapore’s pollution-prevention regulations require occupiers of such facilities to report oil or oily-mixture discharges into Singapore waters “without delay and to the fullest extent possible”.

Shell’s representative requested an eight-week adjournment at the 22 September hearing, citing the need to obtain internal instructions, appoint counsel and locate historical records. The company said the business associated with the incidents had been divested in 2025.

The case was adjourned to October. Shell is also facing prosecution by Singapore’s National Environment Agency over the same incidents.

Photo credit: Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore
Published: 25 September, 2026

Incident

MPA probes Singapore Strait collision involving fishing vessel, bulk carrier

MPA says there were no reported injuries among the crew of either vessel in the incident involving China-registered fishing vessel “Lu Qing Yuan Yu” and Panama-registered bulk carrier “First Margaux” .

Published

23 hours ago

September 25, 2026

Admin

Panama-registered bulk carrier “First Margaux”

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) on Tuesday (22 September) said it is investigating the incident involving the China-registered fishing vessel Lu Qing Yuan Yu and the Panama-registered bulk carrier First Margaux in the Singapore Strait on 17 September.

MPA said there were no reported injuries among the crew of either vessel or pollution arising from the incident and navigational traffic was not affected.

Videos circulating on social media showed the bulk carrier colliding with the fishing vessel.

“The fishing vessel took on water during the incident but remained afloat and stable, with the crew taking measures to manage the situation onboard,” MPA said.

The vessel was subsequently towed to Raffles Reserved Anchorage for assessment.

Essential crew remained onboard to support the tow, while the Singapore Civil Defence Force supported the transfer of other crew to shore.

MPA added it also issued navigational safety broadcasts to keep other vessels clear of the tow and escorted the vessel into port with a MPA craft.

Photo credit: MarineTraffic / Arnold Pohen
Published: 25 September, 2026

Mass Flowmeter

TFG Marine deploys first MFM-equipped bunker barge in Jamaica

Bunker barge “Kingston Trader” is currently on its way to Jamaica following the successful installation of a Coriolis mass flow meter (MFM) system, certified to ISO 22192.

Published

23 hours ago

September 25, 2026

Admin

TFG Marine deploys first MFM-equipped bunker barge in Jamaica

Global marine fuel supply and procurement firm TFG Marine on Thursday (24 September) said its bunker barge Kingston Trader is currently on its way to Jamaica following the successful installation of a Coriolis mass flow meter (MFM) system, certified to ISO 22192.

The company said the latest installation brings the proportion of TFG Marine’s fleet equipped with MFMs to approximately 88%, marking another step in the continued rollout of this technology across its global bunkering operations.

“The barge will operate in Jamaica through our local partnership with Scott Petroleum, becoming the first bunkering vessel in the region equipped with this technology and bringing greater accuracy, transparency and assurance to fuel measurement for customers across the Caribbean,” TFG Marine said in a social media post.

“Together with Scott Petroleum, we look forward to working collaboratively with the Maritime Authority of Jamaica, the The Port Authority of Jamaica, Petrojam Limited and other stakeholders to share our experience of MFM technology, explore its wider benefits and support the continued development of bunkering standards across the region.”

Manifold Times previously reported TFG Marine continuing to expand MFM technology across its US Gulf Coast bunker fleet with Buffalo B414 and Buffalo B304 being fitted with the equipment.

Last year, TFG Marine announced it reached a key milestone in its global digitalisation programme with the installation of an ISO 22192-compliant MFM on the Buffalo 404, a barge on time charter from American bunker barge company Buffalo Marine Service Inc.

The installation was part of TFG Marine’s wider strategy to equip close to 90% of its global bunkering fleet with MFMs by 2026 as a commitment towards improving data integrity, streamlining operations and strengthening trust in marine fuel transactions.

Photo credit: TFG Marine
Published: 25 September, 2026