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Fuelre4m: Why fuel-to-thrust efficiency is the missing metric in maritime

CEO Rob Mortimer says without understanding exactly how much of the fuel burned actually turns into propulsion, operators are flying blind on efficiency and emissions.
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The maritime sector’s longstanding reliance on Specific Fuel Oil Consumption (SFOC) and manufacturer power curves to measure fuel efficiency is increasingly coming under fire for masking real performance as well as real inefficiencies at sea, according to Rob Mortimer, CEO of Fuelre4m, on Tuesday (19 August). 

These legacy metrics, rooted in idealised factory conditions and theoretical assumptions, fail to capture the complexities of actual vessel operation. This results in an industry managing appearances rather than actual fuel-to-thrust efficiency, risking misguided investment, compliance, and sustainability decisions.

SFOC figures are calculated based on engine output assumptions rather than direct measurement, using static power curves provided by engine OEMs that do not account for fuel quality variations or operational wear and tear. This creates a closed loop where neither engine nor fuel inefficiencies are visible, preventing operators and stakeholders from accurately benchmarking performance.

In practice, engine load is inferred from RPM without adjusting for real-world variables, leading to misleading emissions and fuel consumption reports and a false sense of compliance with increasingly stringent ESG and regulatory targets.

Fuel is the largest operational cost for shipowners. Flawed efficiency metrics risk skewing decisions on fuel procurement, vessel upgrades, and alternative fuel investments. Moreover, regulators’ growing emphasis on carbon intensity and emissions trading hinges on incomplete data, exposing companies to compliance risk and accusations of greenwashing.

Shipping must adopt direct measurement tools — including torque sensors and shaft power meters — to quantify real mechanical output. Fuel quality must be validated with precise calorific values, enabling accurate tracking of fuel-to-thrust conversion efficiency across different fuel types.

Updating reporting frameworks to reflect these realities will enable the industry to expose underperforming fuels, hold suppliers accountable, and align cost and emissions targets with actual performance — not outdated assumptions.

Mortimer commented: “Fuel efficiency reporting in shipping has long been shackled by legacy metrics that paint a misleading picture. The industry needs to move beyond theoretical models and assumptions to embrace real-world measurement. Without understanding exactly how much of the fuel burned actually turns into propulsion, operators are flying blind on efficiency and emissions. It’s time for transparency and precision if we are serious about sustainability and operational excellence.”

Mortimer is urging the industry to demand greater transparency and accurate measurement, as this is essential for shipping to credibly tackle its economic and environmental challenges in the decade ahead.

 

Photo credit: Fuelre4m
Published: 25 August, 2025

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Technology

Singapore: Ofiniti, ONE trial direct platform integration to streamline bunker workflows

Ofiniti started a trial in Singapore, integrating FuelBoss directly with a bunker buyer’s own platform, with Ocean Network Express as its first buyer-side integration partner.

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July 22, 2026

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Singapore: Ofiniti, ONE trial direct platform integration to streamline bunker workflows

Ofiniti, the digital platform for maritime fuel operations, on Tuesday (21 July) said it has started a trial in Singapore, integrating FuelBoss directly with a bunker buyer’s own platform.

The company announced Singapore-headquartered container shipping firm Ocean Network Express (ONE) as its first buyer-side integration partner. 

“It is no coincidence we start in Singapore, as the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) remains at the forefront of digitalisation of all things bunkering,” the company said in a social media post.

In November 2023, MPA launched its digital bunkering platform, becoming the world’s first port to implement e-BDN. 

Ofiniti said every bunker delivery still runs on retyped data. 

“The buyer’s system says one thing, the supplier says another, and someone reconciles the gap by email, phone, or PDF. On every stem,” the company said. 

“We built FuelBoss to change this reality.”

With the integration, operational data now flows without manual re-entry, fewer reconciliation errors and faster processing and data, instead of documents, are readily available for procurement and claims workflows. 

“One connection will not transform the industry on its own, but digitalisation gets built one integration at a time. We are grateful to ONE for being willing to go first,” Ofiniti added.

Manifold Times previously reported ONE completing its successful trial of the electronic Bunker Delivery Note (e-BDN) with Shell. 

The e-BDN trial, using the digital bunkering solution developed by Angsana Technology, was conducted on 9 September 2023 at the Port of Singapore, with support from the MPA.

In March 2025, Ofiniti acquired Singapore-based Angsana Technology, with the entire Angsana team joining Ofiniti as part of the acquisition.

Related: MPA Chief Executive: Port of Singapore begins digital bunkering initiative today
Related: Singapore set to become first port in the world to debut electronic bunker delivery notes
Related: ONE completes e-BDN adoption trial with Shell in Port of Singapore
Related: Ofiniti acquires Singapore-based Angsana Technology to advance digital bunkering solutions

 

Photo credit: Ofiniti
Published: 22 July, 2026

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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.

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July 21, 2026

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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

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LNG Bunkering

CIMC SOE secures order for 12,000-cbm LNG bunkering vessel from Sinopec Clean Energy

Once operational, the vessel is expected to strengthen Sinopec’s domestic coastal LNG bunkering network and help address gaps in China’s alternative fuel bunkering infrastructure.
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July 21, 2026

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CIMC SOE secures order for 12,000-cbm LNG bunkering vessel from Sinopec Clean Energy

China’s Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering Co., Ltd. (CIMC SOE) recently signed a contract with Sinopec (Beijing) Clean Energy Co., Ltd. to build a 12,000-cubic metre (m3) LNG bunkering vessel, according to Chinese maritime media.

The vessel is scheduled for delivery in 2028 and will support Sinopec’s efforts to expand its presence in the marine clean energy sector.

Once operational, the vessel is expected to strengthen Sinopec’s domestic coastal LNG bunkering network and help address gaps in China’s LNG bunkering infrastructure.

With this signing , CIMC Pacific Offshore Engineering’s LNG bunkering vessel orderbook is further strengthened, maintaining its leading position in the global market for small and medium-sized LNG bunkering vessels.

The contract also marked another milestone for CIMC SOE, which has seen a sharp increase in orders and business performance this year amid a surge in domestic LNG vessel demand.

 

Photo credit: Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering
Published: 21 July, 2026

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