The International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA) on Monday (24 February) announced the results of its latest board election at the IBIA Annual General Meeting (AGM).

Nine candidates stood for election for two available IBIA Board positions. IBIA confirmed that Mustafa Aslan of Asmira Group and Valeria Sessa of Reseaworld have been elected and re-elected for a three-year term.

They will officially join the IBIA Board on 1 April.

As of 1 April, the IBIA Board will be as follows:

• Chair: Constantinos Capetanakis, Starbulk 
• Vice Chair: Adrian Tolson, 2050 Marine Energy LLC
• Hon. Treasurer: Nigel Draffin, Consultant
• Mustafa Aslan, Asmira Group
• Timothy Cosulich, Fratelli Cosulich
• Claudia Beumer, C4 Fuel BV
• Jeroen de Vos, Peninsula
• Paul Maclons, African Marine Solutions Group (Pty) Ltd
• Rahul Choudhuri, Veritas Petroleum Services (Asia) Pte Ltd
• Colin Holloway, Cockett Marine Oil
• Maria Skipper Schwenn, Bunker Holding Group
• Ufuk Erinc, Unerco Petrol Urn. Denizcilik ve Tic. A.S.
• Deanna MacDonald, BunkerTrace Ltd
• Charlotte Rojgaard, Bureau Veritas
• Valeria Sessa, Reseaworld

“We extend our sincere gratitude to all candidates who participated in the election, representing a diverse range of companies and regions,” IBIA said.

“We look forward to welcoming our newly elected Board members and working together to support IBIA’s mission.”

The results were announced ahead of the IBIA Annual Dinner at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London’s Park Lane.

Photo credit: International Bunker Industry Association
Published: 28 February, 2025

The International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA) on Friday (14 February) welcomed the Port of Ceuta’s decision to become the first Mediterranean port to implement the mandatory use of ISO 22192 certified Coriolis Mass Flow Meters (MFMs) for marine fuel supply. 

IBIA said this initiative is a positive step towards modernising the marine fuel supply industry and improving transparency.

“IBIA has long supported the adoption of Mass Flow Meters across global bunkering hubs as they help increase measurement accuracy, reduce discrepancies, and build trust between suppliers and buyers,” it said in a statement. 

 “While this is a step forward, IBIA also highlights the importance of having the right regulations and procedures in place to make sure the transition to MFMs is smooth and consistent across the industry.”

IBIA added clear guidelines and solid processes are key to ensuring the success of such initiatives and maintaining trust in bunkering operations.

“This development is in line with IBIA’s ongoing push to see bunker licensing schemes, ideally incorporating MFMs, adopted in key global bunkering hubs,” it said. 

IBIA said it looks forward to continued collaboration with ports, regulators, and industry partners to drive further improvements in transparency, reliability, and digitalisation in the marine fuel supply chain.

Manifold Times previously reported Port Authority of Ceuta mandating the use of international ISO 22192 certified and calibrated MFMs for marine fuel supply by barge.

Related: Ceuta becomes first Mediterranean port to mandate certified MFMs for STS bunkering

Photo credit: International Bunker Industry Association
Published: 17 February, 2025

The International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA) on Monday (10 February) said it submitted a document to IMO on the carriage of biofuels for supply to a ship for use as fuel oil on board that ship in November 2023.

This highlighted that as conventional bunker vessels were limited in carrying fuel oil of no more than 25% biofuel it presented a potential impediment to the global adoption of biofuels as fuel oil for ships and so to the ambition for the decarbonization of international shipping in the short term, as set out in the 2023 IMO GHG Strategy.

“IBIA therefore welcomes the agreement by IMO’s Sub Committee on Pollution Prevention and Response (PPR 12) to draft Interim Guidance on the carriage of blends of biofuels and MARPOL Annex I cargoes by conventional bunker ships,” it said on its website. 

The guidance allows conventional bunker ships certified for carriage of oil fuels under MARPOL Annex I to transport blends of not more than 30% by volume of biofuel, as long as all residues or tank washings are discharged ashore, unless the oil discharge monitoring equipment (ODME) is approved for the biofuel blend(s) being shipped. 

“The Interim Guidance is expected to be approved by IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 83) in April,” IBIA added. 

“IBIA’s membership represents stakeholders from across the global marine fuel value chain, and being able to draw on this technically strong and credible resource will, in its role of having consultative status to the IMO, mean that IBIA will continue to bring important matters to the attention of the wider IMO membership for due consideration.”

Photo credit: International Bunker Industry Association
Published: 11 February, 2025