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Alternative Fuels

Huge potential for Singapore domestic harbourcraft electrification by 2030/2050, says ERMA FIRST

‘Batteries are getting better constantly by being more power dense and compact. So hopefully by 2030 battery technology will be much more mature to handle these challenges,’ states spokesman.

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Chinmoy Ghose, Managing Director at METIS Cyberspace Technology (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. (METIS)

Electrification technology will be able to help Singapore’s fleet of domestic harbourcraft decarbonise in the future, states Chinmoy Ghose, Managing Director at METIS Cyberspace Technology (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. (METIS).

Ghose was speaking on behalf of Greece-based environmental maritime solutions provider, ERMA FIRST Group, the parent company of METIS.

ERMA FIRST, while known for its ballast water treatment systems, is also the manufacturer of the Alternative Maritime Power solution ERMA FIRST BLUE CONNECT AMP, which facilitates a vessel’s connection to a port’s electrical grid to power onboard services, systems, and equipment.

BLUE CONNECT v2 Closed

Ghose was commenting on the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA)’s Maritime Singapore Decarbonisation Blueprint: Working Towards 2050 document which outlines electrification as a long-term fuel choice for domestic harbour craft.

According to the document, all domestic harbour craft will operate on low-carbon energy solutions by 2030 and full electric propulsion and net zero fuels by 2050, to achieve 15% reduction in absolute emissions from 2021 levels by 2030 and 50% reduction on in absolute emissions from 2030 levels by 2050.

“Harbour craft electrification is a viable solution for Singapore’s long term decarbonisation strategy,” he pointed out.

“With the development, launch craft and vessels performing short voyages within local anchorages such as tugboats and bunker tankers may eventually be powered by battery technology.

“These vessels could require a floating charging station to receive energy for voyages depending on the energy density of the battery package.”

Ghose noted several current technical challenges facing the republic on its journey towards adopting electrification technology for decarbonisation.

Amongst them, similar to issues faced by the international cold ironing sector, are the standardisation of charging equipment and the frequency of the mains power system.

“But this will not be a problem within Singapore as the local administration will ensure requirements are met,” he believed.

“However, the main challenge will be battery related specifically for storage capacity, size, and safety.

“For example, tugboats use a lot of power for bollard pull and to get a battery unit with such high capacity will be a big challenge considering current technology limits.

“For bunker tankers, the batteries will either need to be placed in an intrinsically safe zone or be intrinsically safe themselves. Space requirements for such batteries will also be an issue.”

Moving forward, Ghose expects battery technology to continuously improve.

“Batteries are getting better constantly by being more power dense and compact. So hopefully by 2030 battery technology will be much more mature to handle these challenges,” he concluded.

Related: MPA blueprint prepares marine fuels sector for multi-fuel bunkering transition
Related: Singapore: MPA maritime decarbonisation blueprint sets target for bunkering sector

 

Photo credit: ERMA FIRST
Published: 1 April, 2024

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LNG Bunkering

Singapore: FueLNG achieves 400th LNG bunkering operation milestone

Bunker tanker “FueLNG Bellina” successfully delivered LNG bunker fuel to “BYD Shenzhen”, the world’s largest LNG-fuelled car carrier at Singapore anchorage during its maiden voyage.

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Singapore: FueLNG achieves 400th LNG bunkering operation milestone

Singapore’s licensed LNG bunker supplier FueLNG on Thursday (15 May) announced the successful completion of its 400th LNG ship-to-ship (STS) bunkering operation in the republic.

FueLNG, a joint venture between Keppel Offshore & Marine and Shell Eastern Petroleum Pte Ltd, marked the milestone with bunker tanker FueLNG Bellina successfully refuelling BYD Shenzhen, the world’s largest LNG-fuelled car carrier, at Singapore anchorage during its maiden voyage.

“With a capacity of 9,200 vehicles and equipped with dual-fuel LNG propulsion, the BYD SHENZHEN represents the next generation of low-emission maritime transport,” it said in a social media post. 

Shell said it supported BYD Shenzhen on its maiden voyage as the supplier of the LNG bunker fuel. 

“Like all LNG dual fuel vessels, BYD Shenzhen is on the pathway to net zero emissions. She can take bio-LNG, and in the future e-LNG, in her fuel mix for further emission reduction and regulatory compliance,” it said in a separate social media post. 

 

Photo credit: Shell
Published: 16 May, 2025

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Biofuel

Hong Kong: CPN hits new record for China’s largest B24 biofuel bunkering operation

Chimbusco Pan Nation delivered 6,300 mt of B24-VLSFO in Hong Kong to boxship “XIN LOS ANGELES” on 15 May, exceeding its previous record of 5,500 mt delivered in February 2025.

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Hong Kong: CPN hits new record for China's largest B24 biofuel bunkering operation

Hong Kong-based bunker supplier Chimbusco Pan Nation Petro-Chemical (CPN) on Friday (16 May) said it has set a record for China’s largest B24 marine biofuel bunkering operation.

CPN said it delivered 6,300 metric tonnes (mt) of B24-VLSFO in Hong Kong to container ship XIN LOS ANGELES on 15 May. 

The supply exceeded CPN’s previous record of 5,500 mt delivered to the same ship in February 2025.

“This collaboration reinforces CPN’s ability to execute large-scale marine biofuel bunkering with precision and reliability,” the company said in a social media post.

“By consistently supplying large volumes of B24 marine biofuel, CPN supports reduced carbon emissions and sustainable shipping practices globally.”

Related: CPN achieves largest B24 bio bunker fuel delivery in Hong Kong and China

 

Photo credit: Chimbusco Pan Nation Petro-Chemical
Published: 16 May, 2025

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Alternative Fuels

St1 delivers first locally produced biomethane to Swedish maritime sector for bunkering

St1 and its venture St1 Biokraft delivered their own Swedish-produced liquefied biomethane to Terntank’s vessel “Tern Ocean” in a bunkering operation at Port of Gothenburg.

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St1 delivers first locally produced biomethane to Swedish maritime sector for bunkering

Finnish energy company St1 and its venture St1 Biokraft delivered their own Swedish-produced liquefied biomethane, also known as bio-LNG, to the local maritime sector for the first time, according to Port of Gothenburg on Thursday (15 May). 

Terntank’s vessel Tern Ocean was bunkered with the biomethane at the Port of Gothenburg. 

St1 and St1 Biokraft are now aiming to become large-scale suppliers of biomethane for shipping, while the Port of Gothenburg continues to pursue its goal of becoming Scandinavia’s primary bunkering hub for alternative fuels.

The bunkering operation recently carried out at quay 519 in the Port of Gothenburg was an important pilot test for St1 and St1 Biokraft as suppliers of biomethane to the maritime sector. The operation also served as a pressure test of the collaboration required across all parts of the value chain, with Terntank, gas infrastructure owner Nordion Energi, and the producers themselves all playing crucial roles.

“In order to accelerate the maritime sector’s transition, it is essential that all actors across the value chain pull in the same direction, cooperate, and translate ambitions into practice. We are pleased to have all of this in place at the Port of Gothenburg,” said Therese Jällbrink, Head of Renewable Energy at the Port of Gothenburg.

“Liquefied biomethane is an important part of the fuel palette that must be available to support the shipping industry’s transition. It is one of the fuels the Port of Gothenburg is working with within the framework of green shipping corridors, aimed at creating the conditions for fossil-free logistics chains. This bunkering operation brings us another step closer to our ambition of becoming Scandinavia’s primary bunkering hub for alternative fuels.”

St1 and St1 Biokraft have ambitions to become large-scale suppliers of liquefied biomethane for the maritime sector, with several new production facilities planned across Sweden.

In 2026, energy infrastructure company Nordion Energi will build a liquefaction facility for biomethane at the Port of Gothenburg, which will be connected to the West Sweden gas grid. With the facility in place, a new opportunity will be created for biomethane producers connected to the gas network to reach the maritime market.

“Once the liquefaction plant is completed, we will have a solid solution in place at the Port of Gothenburg. This is a strategic step towards our goal of scaling up and offering competitive liquefied biomethane to the shipping sector, thereby taking a leading position in this segment,” said Ted Gustavsson, Head of Value Chain at St1 Biokraft.

 

Photo credit: Port of Gothenburg
Published: 16 May, 2025

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