Business

ENGINE: Europe & Africa Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook

ARA fuel oil stocks grew in November; supply steady in Gibraltar Strait; Algoa Bay suppliers working through backlogs.

Published

4 years ago

December 8, 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:

7 December 2022

ARA fuel oil stocks grew in November
Supply steady in Gibraltar Strait
Algoa Bay suppliers working through backlogs

Northwest Europe

VLSFO availability is said to be normal in the ARA hub, while securing prompt deliveries of HSFO and LSMGO can be slightly difficult amid good demand, a source says. Recommended lead times for LSMGO and VLSFO in Rotterdam are around four days, while HSFO requires around 5-6 days, sources say.

The ARA’s independent fuel oil stocks averaged 2% higher last month than in October, according to Insights Global data. Even as fuel oil inventories increased in November, they were still below their five-year average position for the year.

According to cargo tracker Vortexa, the ARA primarily imported fuel oil imports from the UK, Saudi Arabia, Poland, Iraq and Lithuania in November. Most of these volumes comprised low sulphur fuel oil (LSFO). Vortexa has not picked up any Russian cargo imports to the region since August.

The ARA’s average gasoil stocks were steady in November at 12.91 million bbls, but this was far below their five-year average position for the time of the year.

Supply of VLSFO and LSMGO is said to be normal off Skaw, requiring lead times of around seven days, a source says. Prompt availability of HSFO is slightly tight there, the source adds.

Mediterranean

Bunker fuels supply across all grades is said to be normal in Gibraltar Strait ports. Lead times of 3-4 days are advised for VLSFO and LSMGO deliveries in the region, and HSFO requires around five days, a source says.

Two suppliers in Gibraltar and one in Algeciras experienced delays on Wednesday, according to port agent MH Bland.

Availability of VLSFO and LSMGO is normal in Algeciras and Las Palmas. But prompt supply of the two grades is slightly tight off Malta, a source says. Lead times of 5-6 days are advised for bunkering off Malta due to limited barge availability, a source says.

Malta is seeing strong bunker demand. 15 vessels were scheduled to arrive for bunkers in and off Malta on Wednesday, according to Seatrans Shipping agency.

Meanwhile, suppliers have been struggling to deliver stems at Las Palmas’ outer anchorages in the recent days due to bad weather conditions. But some suppliers have resumed bunker deliveries at the port’s weather-exposed outer anchorage this week amid calmer weather conditions, a source says. Strong waves are forecast to hit Las Palmas on Friday, which could disrupt deliveries at its outer anchorage once again.

Bunker demand continues to be good in Ceuta. An average of nine vessels have arrived to bunker in Ceuta each day this week, compared to 11 vessels on average each day last week. Bunker supply is said to be normal there.

In the Greek port of Piraeus, availability of VLSFO and LSMGO is normal, a source says.

Africa

Bunker supply is also steady in South Africa’s Durban and Algoa Bay. Lead times of around seven days are advised for VLSFO and LSMGO deliveries in Durban, a source says.

Suppliers are working to clear bunker backlogs in Algoa Bay. Deliveries in the bay resumed on Tuesday after being suspended for four days due to bad weather conditions, according to Rennies Ships Agency. Four vessels were waiting to receive bunkers at anchorages in the region on Wednesday, Rennies says.

Bunker fuel demand has been growing in Mozambique’s Nacala recently, according to market sources. The number of bunker calls in the port have picked up gradually, from four vessels in each of the first two weeks of November, through to 5-6 vessels in the two last weeks of November, to 12 vessels expected this week.

Prompt supply of VLSFO and LSMGO is said to be steady in both Nacala and Maputo.

By Shilpa Sharma

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 8 December, 2022

Legal

Singapore withdraws remaining 127 charges against Hin Leong founder OK Lim

Lim Oon Kuin, also known as OK Lim, was issued a stern warning and a district court granted him a discharge amounting to an acquittal for these charges on 17 July.

Published

15 hours ago

July 21, 2026

Admin

Founder of collapsed oil trader Hin Leong Trading, Lim Oon Kuin, also known as OK Lim, has had the remaining 127 charges against him withdrawn, according to The Straits Times on Monday (20 July).

OK Lim was issued a stern warning and a district court granted him a discharge amounting to an acquittal for these charges, including those for cheating, on 17 July. The discharge means Lim cannot be prosecuted again for the same offences.

Lim, 84, is currently serving a 13½-year prison sentence after the High Court reduced his original 17½-year jail term in March 2026. He was convicted in 2024 on two cheating charges and one count of abetting forgery in a case prosecutors described as one of Singapore’s most serious trade finance frauds.

Lim was convicted in May 2024 of two charges of cheating the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) and one count of abetting forgery that proceeded to trial out of a total of 130 criminal charges.

He was first charged in court on 14 August 2020, and was subsequently handed further charges in court on 25 September 2020, 30 April 2021 and 24 June 2021 for his role in perpetuating fraud on various financial institutions.

A total of 130 charges were eventually brought against him for cheating and forgery-related offences.

Photo credit: Sora Shimazaki
Published: 21 July, 2026

Winding up

Singapore: Coastal Logistics Pte Ltd to be wound up voluntarily

Coastal Logistics was reportedly affiliated with troubled Singapore bunker player Coastal Oil (Singapore) Pte Ltd.

Published

15 hours ago

July 21, 2026

Admin

Several resolutions for Coastal Logistics Pte Ltd were made during an extraordinary general meeting held on 14 July, according to a notice in the Government Gazette on Friday (4 July).

The following resolutions were duly passed during the meeting:

As Special Resolution

That it has been proved to the satisfaction of the meeting that the Company cannot by reason of its liabilities continue its business and accordingly the Company be wound up voluntarily pursuant to Section 160(1)(b) of the Insolvency, Restructuring and Dissolution Act 2018 (No. 40 of 2018);

As Ordinary Resolutions

that Mr. Wong Pheng Cheong Martin and Ms. Koay May Yee, both care of FTI Consulting (Singapore) Pte Ltd, One Raffles Quay, #27-10 South Tower, Singapore 048583 be appointed as the joint and several Liquidators of the Company for the purpose of such winding up; and
that the Liquidators be at liberty to open, maintain and operate any bank account(s) or account(s) for monies received by them as Liquidators with such bank(s) as they deem fit; and
that a Committee of Inspection will not be formed.

Manifold Times previously reported Nicholas James Gronow, director of Heng Tong Fuels & Shipping and Coastal Logistics, filed statutory declarations for both companies stating the firms cannot continue their businesses due to liabilities.

Both companies were reportedly affiliated with troubled Singapore bunker player Coastal Oil (Singapore) Pte Ltd.

In 2019, several vessels owned by both firms entered the sale & purchase (S&P) market in Singapore.

Photo credit: Drew Beamer
Published: 21 July, 2026

LNG Bunkering

PIL’s LNG dual-fuel boxship “Kota Elok” arrives in Singapore on maiden call

As the first of 13 new 13,000 TEU vessels joining its fleet, Kota Elok is equipped to operate on LNG and low-sulphur fuel oil that helps reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.

Published

15 hours ago

July 21, 2026

Admin

PIL's LNG dual-fuel boxship “Kota Elok” arrives in Singapore on maiden call

Singapore-based Pacific International Lines Pte Ltd on Monday (20 July) said its first 13,000 TEU LNG dual-fuel container vessel, Kota Elok, recently made her maiden call to Singapore on 15 July.

As the first of 13 new 13,000 TEU vessels joining its fleet, Kota Elok is equipped to operate on liquefied natural gas (LNG) and low-sulphur fuel oil that helps reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.

The vessel also incorporated energy-saving features and digital technologies to reduce fuel consumption and enhance operational performance, as well as a bow windshield to improve aerodynamics, contributing to improved fuel efficiency and lower emissions over the course of long-haul voyages.

“Following Singapore, Kota Elok will continue her voyage on our East Coast Service 1 (ES1) route to South America, calling at ports in Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina before returning to Asia,” the company said in a social media post.

Kota Elok also became PIL’s first vessel to receive Lloyd’s Register certification for compliance with the IACS UR E26 and UR E27 cyber security requirements.

Developed by the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS), UR E26 and UR E27 are mandatory cyber resilience requirements for newbuild vessels contracted from 1 July 2024.

Photo credit: Pacific International Lines
Published: 21 July, 2026