Alternative Fuels

IBIA: Bunkering guidance not included in IMO interim guidelines for LPG

IBIA noted initial draft of guidelines contained useful details regarding safety requirements during LPG bunkering operations but these were not included in the final draft.

Published

2 years ago

September 27, 2022

Admin

The International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA) on Monday (26 September) published an article highlighting on IMO’s Draft Interim Guidelines for the Safety of Ships Using LPG Fuels providing very little detail on bunkering operations:

Draft Interim Guidelines for the Safety of Ships Using LPG Fuels that were finalised at a recent IMO meeting do not provide detailed guidance on bunkering operations. In fact, details relating to bunkering operations that were part of earlier drafts were excluded from the final version during discussion at the 8th session of IMO’s Sub-Committee on Carriage of Cargoes and Containers (CCC 8).

IBIA took part in CCC 8 which took place from 14 to 23 September, including the CCC 8 working group (WG) tasked with development of guidelines for low-flashpoint fuels.

While the WG discussed the draft interim guidelines for LPG in the WG, IBIA noted that the initial draft contained useful details regarding what’s required to ensure safety during LPG bunkering operations. However, these were not included in the final draft which will be sent to the 107th meeting of the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 107) for approval, expected in June 2023.

There is a short chapter on bunkering in the interim guidelines for LPG, but these provide only a few general comments to “provide for suitable systems on board the ship to ensure that bunkering can be conducted without causing danger to persons, the environment or the ship,” with very little detail.

The LPG interim guidelines have been closely aligned with the structure of the International Code of Safety for Ships Using Gases or Other Low-Flashpoint Fuels (IGF Code). Many parts of it refers to specific parts of the IGF Code rather than providing details.

The same principle is being followed for other alternative fuels which CCC is working on developing interim guidelines for, recognising that they are different from LNG, which is the primary type of fuel that the IGF Code was developed for.

The purpose of these latest Interim Guidelines is to provide an international standard for ships using LPG as fuel, addressing all areas that need special consideration for the use of LPG as fuel.

The draft states: “The basic philosophy is to provide provisions for the arrangement, installation, control and monitoring of machinery, equipment and systems using LPG as fuel to minimize the risk to the ship, its crew and the environment, having regard to the nature of the fuels involved.

Following discussion in the WG at CCC 8 about not including details related to bunkering operations in the draft, it was decided instead to “invite interested Member States and international organizations to develop guidance for LPG bunkering to assist crews, bunker suppliers and ports in delivering LPG fuel to ships.”

Photo credit: IBIA
Published: 27 September, 2022

Alternative Fuels

Argus Green Marine Fuels Asia eBook released ahead of February bunker conference

eBook features interviews with Microsoft, JERA, IBIA, Anglo American, Sumitomo Corporation, Hafnia, BHP, Global Maritime Forum, DS NORDEN, ADNOC Group, and Standard Chartered Bank.

Published

2 days ago

January 17, 2025

Admin

Argus Media organises Green Marine Fuels Asia Conference in Singapore

Independent global energy and commodity market intelligence provider Argus Media recently published an eBook as part of a prelude leading towards the Argus Green Marine Fuels Asia Conference on 18 to 19 February in Singapore.

The Pre-conference content: Argus marine fuels Asia eBook features exclusive industry interviews with Microsoft, JERA, IBIA, Anglo American, Sumitomo Corporation, Hafnia, BHP, Global Maritime Forum, DS NORDEN, ADNOC Group, and Standard Chartered Bank.

It offers a peek into their thoughts on infrastructure readiness, the marine fuels shipowners are gravitating towards, LNG decarbonisation pathways, collaboration across the marine fuels value chain, and more.

The eBook is available for download through the image below:

The Argus Green Marine Fuels Asia Conference will be held at PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay, 6 Raffles Boulevard, Singapore 039594 on 18 to 19 February in Singapore.

Key speakers for the event include Kenneth Lim, Assistant Chief Executive (Industry & Transformation), Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA); Torben Nørgaard, Chief Technology Officer - Energy & Fuels, Maersk Mc-Kinney Moller Center; Jerid Soo, Assistant General Manager (Global Sustainability and ESG), Pacific International Lines; Kazuki Yamaguchi, General Manager and Head, Maritime Energy Solution, Energy Transformation Business Group, Sumitomo Corporation; and Mahua Chakravarty, Editor, Marine Fuels (Asia), Argus.

Photo credit: Argus Media
Published: 17 January, 2024

Biofuel

Burando Energies delivers B30 bio bunker fuel to tug “MV Bylgia” in Rotterdam

Firm said it successfully delivered ISCC-certified B30 biofuel blend, derived from renewable feedstocks, to Heerema’s Anchor Handling Tug “MV Bylgia” at Port of Rotterdam.

Published

2 days ago

January 17, 2025

Admin

Burando Energies delivers B30 bio bunker fuel to tug “MV Bylgia” in Rotterdam

Burando Energies on Thursday (16 January) announced it successfully delivered ISCC-certified biofuel to Heerema’s Anchor Handling Tug MV Bylgia at the Port of Rotterdam.

The delivered B30 biofuel blend, derived from renewable feedstocks, will help reduce carbon emissions by an estimated 25% (well-to-wake)—an impactful move in Heerema’s ongoing commitment to sustainability.

“This delivery not only reflects our commitment to offering sustainable energy solutions but also strengthens our partnership with Heerema in their green ambitions,” said Duncan Huisman, Sustainable Bunker Trader at Burando Energies.

“We are proud to contribute to initiatives that prioritise the well-being of our planet and future generations.”

Burando Energies said it will continue to focus on innovation and sustainability, striving to provide energy solutions that drive both environmental progress and business success.

Photo credit: Burando Energies
Published: 17 January, 2025

Biofuel

DNV whitepaper: Limited supply could hamper future uptake of bio bunker fuel

Long-term future of the maritime biofuel market hinges on the availability of sustainable biomass at an affordable level, as well as competition with other sectors, says Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen, CEO Maritime.

Published

2 days ago

January 17, 2025

Admin

Key biofuels like FAME and HVO have great potential for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and supporting compliance with maritime regulations, but their benefits to the industry could be constrained by limited supply in the future, according to DNV’s latest white paper Biofuels in Shipping, published on Thursday (16 January).

Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen, CEO Maritime at DNV, said: “Biofuels present a promising decarbonization option for shipowners, and it's encouraging to see steady growth in the number of bunkering ports offering biofuels in recent years.”

“However, the long-term future of the maritime biofuel market hinges on the availability of sustainable biomass at an affordable level, as well as competition with other sectors.”

“Shipowners should, therefore, aim to explore energy efficiency measures and alternative fuels as part of their wider decarbonization strategies, while utilizing biofuels where they are available and affordable.”

In 2023, the maritime sector consumed just 0.7 million tonnes of oil equivalent (Mtoe) of liquid biofuels, representing a mere 0.6% of global liquid biofuel supply and 0.3% of shipping’s total energy use, highlighting the limited uptake of biofuels in shipping today compared to other sectors.

Despite this, biofuel holds significant potential for reducing GHG emissions and achieving compliance with regulatory frameworks, such as CII, EU ETS, and FuelEU Maritime. To realise these benefits, the biofuels used must meet stringent sustainability and GHG savings requirements, verified through a Proof of Sustainability (PoS) or similar document.

Drawing on in-depth interviews and written surveys of eight biofuel suppliers and 12 shipping companies, the paper identified more than 60 locations which have already been proven to have carried out biofuel bunkering operations since 2015. The report estimates that the ports of Singapore and Rotterdam accounted for about half of all biofuels supply to shipping in 2023.

The majority of biofuel consumption in shipping occurs through fuel blends, combining biofuels like FAME and HVO, the most established biofuels for maritime use, with conventional oil-based fuels.

The DNV white paper contains an overview of the main technical and operational considerations for use of biofuel as a ‘drop-in’ fuel. This includes key recommendations to shipowners such as verifying fuel quality, compatibility with onboard systems, and monitoring performance.

Øyvind Sekkesæter, Consultant in Maritime Environmental Technology at DNV and Lead Author of Biofuels in Shipping, said: “The technical compatibility of key marine biofuels like FAME and HVO varies from ship to ship, making it essential to assess each case individually.”

“Doing so will ensure that the fuel specification and quality are compatible with their intended application, minimizing the risk of damage to equipment and loss of power onboard the vessel.”

Note: The full DNV report titled ‘Biofuels in Shipping’ can be found here.

Photo credit: DNV
Published: 17 January, 2025