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ENGINE: Europe & Africa Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook

ARA fuel oil and gasoil stocks drawn massively in 2022; bad weather could disrupt bunkering in Las Palmas; fuel availability normal in South African ports.

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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:

4 January 2023

  • ARA fuel oil and gasoil stocks drawn massively in 2022
  • Bad weather could disrupt bunkering in Las Palmas
  • Fuel availability normal in South African ports

 

Northwest Europe

Availability of VLSFO and LSMGO grades is normal in the ARA hub, with recommended lead times of around 3-4 days. But securing prompt delivery of HSFO can be difficult there, requiring a longer period of around 5-6 days.

The region’s fuel oil stocks averaged 17% lower last year than across 2021, according to Insights Global data.

Dwindling Russian fuel oil inflows along with steady fuel oil exports could be reasons behind the significant draw of ARA’s fuel oil inventories in 2022.

According to cargo tracker Vortexa, no Russian fuel oil cargoes arrived in the region between August and November. However, fuel oil imports from Russia resumed in December, bringing Russia back to become the fourth-largest fuel oil import source for the ARA.

Russia used to be the absolute top fuel oil import source for the region before it invaded Ukraine, and European countries and companies responded with sanctions and self-sanctions on Russian oil. By 5 February, all imports of Russian fuel oil, gasoil and other oil products must be phased out in the ARA and other EU ports.

The ARA’s gasoil stocks averaged 26% lower last year than in 2021.

Bunker fuel availability is currently normal in northern German ports, but could come under pressure in the future because the Schwedt refinery halted all crude oil imports from Russia last Sunday. 

Fuel oil supplied as bunker fuels in Hamburg and other northern German ports is mostly produced at Schwedt. Crude oil has historically piped into the refinery from Russia via the Druzhba pipeline. The refinery has already replaced Russian crude oil with oil from Poland and other sources in recent weeks.

Meanwhile, the availability of VLSFO and LSMGO is said to be normal in Hamburg. Lead times of 3-5 days are advised for VLSFO and LSMGO deliveries there, while HSFO supply remains subject to enquiry. 

Supply of VLSFO and LSMGO is said to be normal-to-tight for prompt dates off Skaw, requiring lead times of around seven days, a source says. Availability of HSFO is tight in the region and may require longer lead times, the source adds.

 

Mediterranean

Bunker fuels supply is said to be normal in most ports in the Gibraltar Strait, while securing prompt delivery of VLSFO and HSFO can be slightly difficult in Malta this week, a source says.

There have been few enquiries for prompt bunker deliveries in the Gibraltar Strait this week, the source says.

Slight congestion was reported in Gibraltar on Wednesday. One supplier experienced 12 hours of delay, according to port agent MH Bland. All three suppliers in Algeciras experienced 6-12 hours of delays on Wednesday.

No congestion has been reported in Malta and Ceuta this week. Eight vessels were scheduled to arrive in Ceuta on Wednesday, according to shipping agent Jose Salama & Co.

12 vessels were due to arrive for bunkers in and off Malta on Wednesday, according to Seatrans Shipping agency.

A forecast of bad weather conditions this week has raised concerns over smooth bunker deliveries at Las Palmas’ outer anchorage, MH Bland says. Strong swells of 1.5 meter hit Las Palmas on Wednesday, but suppliers were still delivering as usual there, a source says. The weather is forecast to remain bad until Saturday, which could complicate deliveries.

 

Africa

Bunker operations were in progress in Algoa Bay on Wednesday. But strong winds and heavy swells could hamper bunker deliveries there this week, a source says. Strong winds of 25 knots and swells ranging up to 2.5 meter hit the region on Wednesday. Swells of 2.6 meter are forecast to hit Algoa Bay on Thursday.

Three vessels were waiting to receive bunkers at anchorage in Algoa Bay on Wednesday and 12 more vessels are scheduled to arrive this week, according to Rennies Ships Agency.

Meanwhile, bunker fuel availability is said to be normal in Algoa Bay and in Durban. Lead times of seven days are recommended for deliveries in both locations, a source says.

Bunkering is going ahead as normal in Mozambique’s Nacala and Maputo ports. A total of six vessels are scheduled to arrive to bunker across the two ports this week, down from seven last week.

By Shilpa Sharma

 

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 5 January, 2022

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Winding up

Singapore: Liquidators of Nan Ho Maritime, Nan Xin Maritime issue notices of dividend

Nan Ho Maritime’s second interim dividend and Nan Xin Maritime’s second and final dividend are payable from 4 September, according to Government Gazette notices.

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Notices of dividend for Nan Ho Maritime Pte Ltd and Nan Xin Maritime Pte Ltd, which are currently in creditors’ voluntary liquidation, were published on the Government Gazette on Friday (4 September). 

The following are the details of the notice for Nan Ho Maritime:

Name of Company : Nan Ho Maritime (Pte.) Ltd. (In Creditors’ Voluntary Liquidation)
Unique Entity No. / Registration No. : 200814315C
Address of Former Registered Office : 21 Bukit Batok Crescent, #22-70 WCEGA Tower, Singapore 658065
Amount per centum : 2.305 per centum of all admitted ordinary claims
First and Final or otherwise : Second interim dividend
When Payable : 4 September 2026 onwards
Where Payable : c/o AAG Corporate Advisory Pte. Ltd., 11 Collyer Quay, #07-02 The Arcade, Singapore 049317

The following are the details of the notice for Nan Xin Maritime:

Name of Company : Nan Xin Maritime (Pte.) Ltd. (In Creditors’ Voluntary Liquidation)
Unique Entity No. / Registration No. : 201701966W
Address of Former Registered Office : 21 Bukit Batok Crescent, #22-70 WCEGA Tower, Singapore 658065
Amount per centum : 3.980 per centum of all admitted ordinary claims
First and Final or otherwise : Second and final dividend
When Payable : 4th day of September 2026 onwards
Where Payable : c/o AAG Corporate Advisory Pte. Ltd., 11 Collyer Quay, #07-02 The Arcade, Singapore 049317

 

Photo credit: Benjamin Child
Published: 7 September, 2026

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LNG Bunkering

Singapore-based EPS takes delivery of three LNG dual-fuel bulk carriers

Three vessels are the third, fourth and fifth in the company’s series of 14 Newcastlemaxes being built at the yard, and were delivered five months ahead of their contracted delivery dates.

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Singapore-based Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS) on Friday (4 September) announced the naming and delivery of three new LNG dual-fuel Newcastlemax bulk carriers from China’s Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding. 

Cyril Ducau, CEO of EPS, said the vessels were named Mount Victoria, Mount Yulong and Mount Wuyi

The three vessels are the third, fourth and fifth in the company’s series of 14 Newcastlemaxes being built at the yard, and were delivered five months ahead of their contracted delivery dates.

“A big thank you to CSSC Group and Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding, working alongside our EPS team, for the tremendous collaboration and commitment behind this achievement,” Ducau said in a social media post.  

 

Photo credit: Eastern Pacific Shipping
Published: 7 September, 2026

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Port & Regulatory

ISWG-GHG 22: IMO working group aims to present NZF text at MEPC 85

The Chair expressed his observation of a genuine willingness within the Group to make concrete further progress at the next ISWG-GHG meeting and work towards presenting text to MEPC 85.

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The Intersessional Working Group on Reduction of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions from Ships (ISWG-GHG 22) met for its 22nd meeting from 1 to 4 September 2026, chaired by Mr. Sveinung Oftedal (Norway), according to the International Maritime Organization on Friday (4 September). 

According to a meeting summary by IMO, the meeting had a high level of participation, with nearly 1200 registered participants, in person and online.

During the meeting participants considered the following agenda items:

Consideration of proposals, including documents submitted to MEPC 84 and 85, previous sessions of ISWG-GHG, as well as documents submitted to ISWG-GHG 22, on how to address concerns with the draft amendments to MARPOL Annex VI on the Net-Zero Framework, in line with the 2023 IMO GHG Strategy

Following constructive discussions, the Chair expressed his observation of a genuine willingness within the Group to make concrete further progress at the next ISWG-GHG meeting and work towards presenting text to MEPC 85 that adequately addresses the noted progress made in the consideration of proposals on how to address concerns raised regarding the draft amendments to MARPOL Annex VI on the mid-term measure.

The Group invited interested delegations to continue to consult intersessionally to address remaining concerns with the draft amendments to MARPOL Annex VI, in line with the 2023 IMO GHG Strategy, taking into account views expressed at the Group’s session, with a view to submitting concrete proposals reflecting enhanced convergence allowing timely adoption and effective implementation.

Further consideration of the draft guidelines supporting the uniform and effective implementation of IMO’s mid-term measures.

The Group held a preliminary exchange of views on this agenda item, although time became a limiting factor and the Group and agreed to defer the consideration of all documents submitted to this session under this agenda item to ISWG-GHG 23 (23-27 November 2026).

Further consideration of the development of the IMO Life Cycle GHG Assessment (LCA) framework.

Due to time constraints, the Group was not able to consider the agenda item related to the IMO Life Cycle GHG Assessment (LCA) framework. The Group deferred the consideration of those documents to ISWG-GHG 23, in conjunction with the report of the fourth meeting of the GESAMP-LCA Working Group expected to be submitted to MEPC 85.

Next steps

The next meeting of the Intersessional Working Group on Reduction of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions from Ships (ISWG-GHG 23) is scheduled for 23 to 27 November 2026, ahead of MEPC 85 (30 November to 3 December).

The second extraordinary session of MEPC (adjourned last October) is scheduled to resume on 4 December, subject to discussions at MEPC 85.

 

Photo credit: International Maritime Organization
Published: 7 September, 2026

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