Dutch authorities have reportedly given global commodity trading firm Gunvor permission to upgrade its Rotterdam refinery with a delayed coker unit without first conducting any environment assessments.
The delayed coker unit will allow the refinery to reprocess fuel oil material, traditionally used as bunker fuel, into cleaner products.
Gunvor, which has not yet committed to the upgrade, is considering the move due to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) decision to mandate the consumption of 0.5% sulphur limit bunker fuel by 2020.
“Gunvor is currently studying several options for how best to respond to the IMO decision,” Gunvor spokesman Seth Pietras told Reuters.
“We have not made any decision yet.”
According to Reuters, several oil majors including ExxonMobil and Total have already made investments to upgrade their refineries in preparation for the upcoming 2020 IMO regulation.
Gunvor acquired the Rotterdam refinery from Kuwait Petroleum Europoort in 1 February, 2016.
Published: 26 January, 2018
‘Responsibility of the marine bunker supply chain cannot be shifted onto ship operators and crews.’
In general, the Port of Singapore’s performance stood resilient throughout 2020 with bunker sales amounting to 49.8 million tonnes at a 5% year-on-year increase.
As the value of Euronav’s 0.5% oil stocks fall below cost, the company has been buying 0.5% fuel in the open market to supply its fleet while writing down the value of its stock.
Enforcement against vessels that narrowly exceed 0.5% VLSFO in test results may lead to legal claims.
Issues ABS Advisory on Marine Fuel Oil to help industry prepare for approaching global sulphur cap.
There is a lack of independently validated data from measurements of VLSFO, but what is important is the effort to reduce black carbon emissions from shipping, it said.
Top three positive movers in 2021 were Hong Lam Fuels Pte Ltd (+14); Sirius Marine Pte Ltd (+12); and TFG Marine (+11); according to the latest data from the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore.
Webinar will offer delegates insights on the prevention of operational issues when using VLSFOs, along with an update on biofuels and bunker fuel quality trends for 2021 and its forecast for the current year.
Heating VLSFOs to prevent cold flow issues causes issues related to distillate ageing, and there is a gentle balance to be maintained when handling the product.
Research into n-paraffin distribution of VLSFOs has shown that they not only differ from MGO, but significantly differ from each other as well, states bulletin.
Bunker Holding and Dan-Bunkering have decided not to appeal the city court ruling in the case where the companies were on trial for breaching EU sanctions against Syria, states USTC.
Poll shows market participants think Singapore’s future as a bunkering hub in the near term will be impacted most by growth in alternative bunker fuels and intensifying competition from other ports in Asia.
