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ENGINE: Europe & Africa Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook

HSFO supply improves in the ARA; steady supply in most Mediterranean ports; HSFO supply remains tight in Nacala.

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RESIZED ENGINE Europe and Africa

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:

30 August 2023

  • HSFO supply improves in the ARA
  • Steady supply in most Mediterranean ports
  • HSFO supply remains tight in Nacala

 

Northwest Europe

HSFO availability in Rotterdam and in the wider ARA hub has improved, sources say. However, securing the grade for very prompt delivery dates (0-2 days) remains difficult. Lead times of 5-6 days are recommended for the grade, slightly down from 5-7 days last week.

Meanwhile, prompt LSMGO availability has tightened in the ARA hub, two sources say. Some suppliers are hesitant to offer the grade for very prompt delivery dates, while those offering are quoting with steep prompt premiums, a trader says.

Lead times of up to four days are recommended for LSMGO, another source says. The tightness in Rotterdam’s LSMGO supply flipped its price to a rare premium of $7/mt over ICE Gasoil contract on Wednesday.

Rotterdam’s LSMGO price has typically traded at a discount to front-month ICE Gasoil futures in recent weeks. It was trading at a $27/mt discount to ICE Gasoil last week, but these discounts have eroded since.

ICE Gasoil is in steep backwardation, with $13/mt between the front- and second-month contracts. Its second-to-third month spread was even wider at nearly $32/mt on Wednesday. A backwardated forward structure is usually a sign of fewer incentives to store products.

Some refineries in the ARA are diverting more distillates to VLSFO blending, a trader claims.

However, prompt VLSFO availability has tightened a bit in the ARA hub. Lead times for the grade have gone up from last week’s four days, to 4-7 days now. While VLSFO availability is relatively better compared to the other two grades, there have been signs of slight supply tightness, a source says.

Prompt LSMGO is very tight in the Dutch port of Terneuzen.

In the German port of Hamburg, VLSFO and LSMGO availability is normal. Recommended lead times for both grades are about five days.

 

Mediterranean

All grades remain in good supply across Gibraltar Strait ports, a source says. Lead times of 3-5 days are recommended for VLSFO and LSMGO in Gibraltar, and 4-6 days for HSFO.

On Wednesday, a total of 17,000 mt of VLSFO was discharged in Ceuta, with 11,000 mt going to one supplier and 6,000 mt to another, according to the Port of Ceuta. These replenishment cargoes will boost VLSFO supply in the port.

Minimum congestion was reported in Gibraltar, Algeciras and Ceuta on Wednesday, port agent MH Bland says. One supplier in Gibraltar and three in Algeciras were behind schedule.

VLSFO and LSMGO availability is good in the Portuguese ports of Lisbon and Sines.

Other bunker delivery areas in the Mediterranean such as Piraeus, off Malta and Istanbul have good availability of VLSFO and LSMGO, a source says. HSFO supply has improved off Malta, despite only one supplier offering the grade.

 

Africa

VLSFO and LSMGO availability is normal in the South African ports of Cape Town and Durban, where lead times of up to seven days are still recommended, a source says.

Availability of both grades is good in the nearby ports of Nacala and Maputo in Mozambique, a source says. HSFO availability remains very tight in Nacala.

Meanwhile, bunker fuel availability is said to be very tight in Beira in Mozambique. Due to tight bunker supply and long delays in Beira, ships there are seeking alternative bunkering locations such as Maputo or Nacala, a source says.

By Nithin Chandran

 

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 31 August, 2023

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Bunker Fuel

SIBCON 2024: EnterpriseSG to launch new Singapore standard for e-BDN

EnterpriseSG, through the Singapore Standards Council, will launch a new Singapore Standard 709 Specification for Digital Bunkering Supply Chain Documentation.

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SIBCON 2024: New Singapore standard on digital bunkering to be launched

Enterprise Singapore (EnterpriseSG), through the Singapore Standards Council (SSC), will launch a new Singapore Standard (SS) 709 Specification for Digital Bunkering Supply Chain Documentation, according to Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) on Wednesday (9 October). 

MPA said the new standard will ensure data consistency and interoperability between digital systems and facilitate smoother transactions through trusted and verifiable digital bunkering documents. 

This comes following Amy Khor, Senior Minister of State for the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment and the Ministry of Transport, announcing that from 1 April 2025, all bunker suppliers will be required to provide digital bunkering services and issue electronic bunker delivery notes (e-BDNs) as a default.

The move was decided following successful pilots conducted since 1 November 2023 with bunker suppliers, including the top 10 bunker players, in Singapore.

To further enhance transparency and transaction integrity in bunkering operations, MPA will also introduce a centralised e-BDN record verification facility. This enables key stakeholders to verify the e-BDN received against the information transmitted to MPA.

EnterpriseSG has also launched the revised Singapore Standard (SS) 648 Code of Practice for Bunker Mass Flow Metering to include data integrity and transmission requirements in line with this new digital standard.

In the first eight months of 2024, MPA said Singapore saw strong growth of approximately 7% in total bunker sales over the same period last year, reaching over 36 million tonnes. Biofuels and liquefied natural gas bunker sales surpassed 700,00 metric tonnes. 

To support the operationalisation of a higher mix of low-carbon alternative fuels, both EnterpriseSG and MPA are developing the Singapore standards for methanol bunkering and ammonia bunkering by 2024 and 2025 respectively. 

The standards will cover custody transfer requirements, safety procedures and crew competencies, to ensure safe bunkering operations and handling of these fuels.

MPA also announced that three major shipping lines — Hafnia, K-Line, and MOL — are in early discussions to join the Singapore - Port of Los Angeles (LA)- Port of Long Beach (LB) Green and Digital Shipping Corridor (GDSC) initiative.

Each partner would be expected to spearhead a project to advance the corridor’s decarbonisation and digitalisation goals, such as the adoption of net-zero fuels, Just-in-Time route optimisation, and energy efficiency technologies such as wind-assisted ship propulsion. 

The addition of the new partners will significantly strengthen the GDSC’s capacity to drive innovation in sustainable shipping practices and accelerate the adoption of zero/near-zero emission fuels and green technologies along the corridor.

Related: SIBCON 2024: Singapore bunker suppliers must provide e-BDN from 1 April 2025
Related: Singapore: TradeGo becomes fifth whitelisted e-BDN solution provider
Related: Singapore: MoUs on digital bunkering and eBDN signed at TechWaves conference
Related: DNV FuelBoss coverage expands to include conventional bunker fuels, whitelisting by MPA in process
Related: Singapore: MPA adds ADP Clear as whitelisted solution provider for e-BDN
Related: Singapore set to become first port in the world to debut electronic bunker delivery notes
Related: MPA Chief Executive: Port of Singapore begins digital bunkering initiative today
Related: Singapore: MPA publishes guidelines for bunker suppliers in preparation of e-BDN launch
Related: ZeroNorth enables Golden Island to become Singapore’s first 100% digital bunker supplier
Related: Photo essay: e-BDN trial of “One Truth” at Singapore port
Related: Hong Lam Marine ‘fully supportive’ of e-BDN implementation for Singapore bunkering sector
Related: ONE completes e-BDN adoption trial with Shell in Port of Singapore
Related: Singapore: Golden Island switching to 100% e-BDN operations from 1 December
Related: IBIA: International Maritime Organization confirms acceptance for electronic BDNs (update)
Related: IBIA: MEPC 80 confirms acceptance for electronic bunker delivery notes
Related: IBIA: IMO sub-committee accepts use of electronic BDNs after long discussion

 

Photo credit: Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore
Published: 10 October, 2024

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Alternative Fuels

SIBCON 2024: SGMF releases methanol and ammonia bunkering guidelines

SFMF published Bunkering Guidelines for Ammonia and Bunkering Guidelines for Methanol, as well as Emergency Response Guide for Ammonia; also revealed new brand to reflect four key future marine fuels.

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SIBCON 2024: SGMF releases methanol and ammonia bunkering guidelines

SGMF on Wednesday (9 October) announced the release of the Bunkering Guidelines for Ammonia and Bunkering Guidelines for Methanol, as well as the Emergency Response Guide for Ammonia.

During the 23rd Singapore International Bunkering Conference (SIBCON), SGMF also revealed its new brand reflecting the organisation’s current activities in the four key marine fuels for the future: LNG, methanol, ammonia and hydrogen.

SGMF is a membership-based organisation leading safe maritime decarbonisation with members across the full value chain of marine fuels, including suppliers, operators, owners, equipment manufacturers, class societies, port authorities, individuals and training organisations.

While the search for the perfect alternative fuel continues, SGMF said methanol and ammonia are two of the fuels that the global merchant fleet has identified and is looking to implement, emphasising the importance of these guidelines. 

Methanol – With the first vessels already running on methanol, and many more on order, methanol is ahead of the curve in terms of adoption. It has also overtaken regulation, meaning that these early adopters are having to put forward safety solutions that have not yet been documented, and bunker suppliers using existing chemical carriers are trying to second guess what conversion and equipment may be needed to make their vessels physically compatible with the ships being produced. These methanol bunkering guidelines have been published as a first draft to highlight the key safety factors that need to be considered when designing and bunkering a vessel of any type with methanol. 

Ammonia – Despite ammonia (NH3) not yet being commercially available as a marine fuel, this bunkering document provides guidance to all the stakeholders currently investigating and developing the bunkering of ships with fully refrigerated (-33°C) ammonia.

A range of potential hazards are expected with bunkering ammonia and to date there is very limited experience, with only one series of bunkering trials conducted as at March 2024. 

As a result, Bunkering Guidelines for Ammonia draws primarily on the current experience of LNG bunkering, the wider ammonia marine transport industry and the shoreside ammonia production and transport industry experience. 

“The overall aim of these guidelines is therefore to ensure that ammonia-fuelled ships are bunkered safely, reliably, efficiently and in an environmentally responsible way, targeting the avoidance of operational or fugitive emissions of ammonia,” SGMF added. 

These publications have been compiled with extensive input from the SGMF membership, as well as with collaborative support from the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD) and the Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping (MMMCZCS).

Note: The bunkering guidelines are available in the shop on SGMF portal and the Emergency Response Guide for Ammonia can be downloaded through its free resources section.

 

Photo credit: SGMF
Published: 10 October, 2024

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Technology

SIBCON 2024: TFG Marine to launch ZeroNorth e-BDNs in Singapore

‘We are excited to work with providers such as ZeroNorth to roll out eBDNs to our customers, not only in Singapore but across our global operations,’ says Kenneth Dam, TFG Marine Global Head of Bunkering.

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SIBCON 2024: TFG Marine to launch ZeroNorth e-BDNs in Singapore

TFG Marine (TFG), the international marine fuel joint venture founded by Trafigura, Frontline and Golden Ocean, on Wednesday (9 October) said it will introduce ZeroNorth’s electronic bunker delivery notes (eBDNs) solution for its customers in Singapore by the end of the year. 

Kenneth Dam, TFG Marine Global Head of Bunkering, made the announcement during the International Trade and Fuel Market Trends panel discussion at the 23rd Singapore International Bunkering Conference (SIBCON).

Dam said: “We are excited to work with providers such as ZeroNorth to roll out eBDNs to our customers, not only in Singapore but across our global operations.”

“This technology will help digitalise the bunker delivery process, reduce administrative burdens, enhance digital documentation, and contribute to a smarter, more connected bunkering sector.”

“We are committed to advocating for the adoption of eBDNs as a global standard for bunker fuel delivery.”

The fully digital solution, accessible through TFG Marine’s mobile app and integrated with SGTraDex digital infrastructure, will enable the inclusion of additional data, such as mass flow meter readings during fuel deliveries. 

“This will drive substantial improvements in efficiency, accuracy, compliance, and sustainability across operations, complementing our global mass flow meter global rollout across our fleet and ensuring TFG Marine remains at the forefront of the bunkering industry,” the firm added.

 

Photo credit: TFG Marine
Published: 10 October, 2024

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