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Innospec launches Octamar™ series of additives for new blends of IMO 2020 bunker fuels

Octamar™ HF-10 Plus & Octamar™ Ultra HF both enhance the stability and compatibility of VLSFOs and hybrid fuels, company spokesman tells Manifold Times.

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Colorado-based global specialty chemicals company Innospec on Tuesday (3 September) launched a new series of additives specifically developed for new blends of 0.5% sulphur limit IMO 2020 bunker fuels at the 9th Biennial Bunkering in Asia conference.

The two new multi-functional additives, Octamar™ HF-10 Plus and Octamar™ Ultra HF, both enhance the stability and compatibility of VLSFOs and hybrid fuels; however, Octamar™ Ultra HF offers extra combustion improvements to aid blends with ignition issues.

“Additive solutions for marine fuels were simply a ‘good to have’ in the past, but now with IMO 2020 around the corner we are seeing so many people open to this cost effective measure for marine fuel risk management,” Martin Chew, Marine Regional Sales Manager, Asia Pacific, told Manifold Times.

“There is no straight forward solution for the changeover of IMO 2020 compliant fuels and a chemical [additive] solution is one of the ways vessels can transit from consuming HSFO to VLSFO in a safe and predictable manner.”

According to Chew, most ship owners are aware they are not recommended to mix the new blends of IMO 2020 compliant fuels due to potential issues.

“Segregation in storage tanks is possible on larger ships with many tanks. That said, in some cases this might reduce the range of the ship. Older ships with 1 set of settling and service tanks will certainly experience co-mingling at some point of time.”, he explains.

“Properties of these new fuels (e.g. viscosity, cold flow properties, CCAI and cat fines) are too varied and everyone knows of their possible stability and compatibility issues which can actually worsen under operating conditions.”

“In the end, co-mingling cannot be avoided especially when you get another new batch of compliant fuel to go on top of an initially compliant fuel – that is where the problem comes in.”

Chew notes of field reports indicating sludging issues faced by ship owners when less than 10% of different IMO 2020 compliant marine fuel blends are mixed together.

“The reason for the large range of properties seen in IMO 2020 compliant fuels is due to refiners, who are more concerned about meeting  ISO 8217 specifications, each having different blends.”, informs Lawrence Chia, VP Sales – Asia Pacific, Performance Specialities.

Innospec has been supplying additives to heavy fuel refining customers for the past 80 years.

“We are also working with a lot of refineries and we’re trying to help them to meet the specifications of IMO 2020 fuels; what we are seeing is that they are having problems with CFPP (cold filter plugging point), pour point, TSP (total sediment potential), and combustibility.” notes Chia.

“That’s why we are seeing compliant fuels produced by refiners having a wide range and much lower viscosity. As the refiners’ concern is limited to meeting the ISO 8217 specification, the potential operational issues are with the end user.”

“Our products [Octamar™ HF-10 Plus and Octamar™ Ultra HF] have gone through intensive R&D over the past one year where we collected close to 100 samples for testing at the refinery level.”

“We actually tested our additives on IMO 2020 compliant marine fuels and can verify these products are able to stabilise the fuels and greatly reduce the chances of operational issues when the fuels are co-mingled.”

Contact details of Chew and Chia are as follows:

Martin Chew
Marine Regional Sales Manager, Asia Pacific
Direct: +65 6664 8610
Email: [email protected]

Lawrence Chia
VP Sales – Asia Pacific, Performance Specialities
Direct: +65 6664 8606
Email: [email protected]

Innospec Limited
Branch Office Singapore
47 Scotts Road
#06-01 Goldbell Towers
Singapore 228233

Photo credit: Innospec
Published: 6 September, 2019

 

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China: Yangpu records 27% on year increase in bunkering volumes from Jan to May

Latest bunker supplier at Yangpu port is Hainan Luhai Energy which received a license from the Danzhou Municipal People’s Government in April 2025.

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The Port of Yangpu located in Hainan Island recorded a 27% on year increase in bonded bunkering volume for the period between January to May 2025 due to local government initiatives, according to Danzhou Municipal People’s Government on 5 July.

During the five-month period, the port supplied 149,400 metric tonnes (mt) of bunker fuel to 288 international vessels, compared to 117,400 mt of marine fuel to 278 ships in the year before.

Explaining the 2025 figures, the government pointed out 145,400 mt of bonded bunker fuel to 275 vessels were delivered by bunkering firms under national licenses, while 4,000 mt of bonded marine fuel were sent by bunkering companies under Hainan licenses.

To date, there are four bunker suppliers operating at Yangpu port. The latest to join is Luhai Energy Technology Development (Hainan) Co., Ltd (陆海能源科技发展(海南)有限公司) which received a license from the Danzhou Municipal People’s Government in April 2025.

“In the future, we will continue to work hard to continuously optimise the bonded oil refuelling service system, increase policy publicity and promotion efforts, attract more bonded oil refuelling companies to settle in Yangpu, and continuously expand the scale of business, and promote the implementation of the bonded oil refuelling policy,” stated Li Leiming, a mid-level employee of the Yangpu Investment Promotion Bureau.

 

Photo credit: Chuanhaozi under Creative Commons Licences
Published: 14 July 2025

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Singapore retains ranking as world’s top maritime centre for 12th consecutive year

Finds report jointly published by the Baltic Exchange and China’s Xinhua News Agency.

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Singapore on Friday (11 July) said it has retained its ranking as the world’s top maritime centre, marking the 12th consecutive year it has led the Xinhua-Baltic International Shipping Centre Development (ISCD) Index.

Jointly published by the Baltic Exchange and China’s Xinhua News Agency, the Xinhua-Baltic ISCD Index provides an independent benchmarking of the world’s leading maritime hubs.

It evaluates factors such as cargo throughput, port infrastructure, maritime services (including finance, law and shipbroking), and the overall business environment.

The index is closely monitored by shipping lines, port investors, and maritime service providers to track market competitiveness, and inform investment location and service development decisions.

Singapore retained its top position among 43 maritime cities and regions, underpinned by its consistent performance as one of the world’s busiest transhipment and bunkering hubs, and a well-established ecosystem of professional maritime services and expertise.

In 2024, Singapore handled 41.12 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in container throughput – a record high – and saw total vessel arrival tonnage exceed 3 billion gross tons. The Port of Singapore also remains the world’s largest bunkering port, having supplied 54.92 million tonnes of marine fuel in 2024.

Home to more than 200 international shipping groups and a growing number of maritime technology start-ups, Singapore continues to strengthen its position as a global node for maritime innovation and enterprise.

This growing industry base is also creating new career pathways in areas such as port operations, digital systems management, automation, maritime law, and sustainability – as the sector transforms to meet the needs of a more digital and decarbonised future.

“We thank our industry partners, the research and enterprise community, and our unions who have been instrumental in Singapore’s journey to become a leading international maritime centre and global hub port,” said Ang Wee Keong, Chief Executive of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore.

“We will continue to build on this momentum by innovating and investing in digitalisation, green technologies, and workforce development to strengthen Singapore’s position as a trusted and future-ready international maritime centre.”

 

Photo credit: Manifold Times
Published: 14 July 2025

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“LNG London” marks 1,000 safe LNG bunkering ops in Rotterdam and Antwerp

Milestone is a tribute to the technical expertise and steadfast dedication of LNG London’s team, states Victrol.

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The LNG London, a liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering vessel chartered by Shell, owned by LNG Shipping, and operated by Victrol recently completed over 1,000 safe LNG bunkering operations across the ports of Rotterdam and Antwerp.

“This landmark achievement underscores LNG London’s unwavering commitment to safety, reliability, and environmental stewardship as LNG rises to prominence as a lower-emission marine fuel compared to conventional fuel oil,” stated Victrol on Friday (11 July) over a LinkedIn update.

“With this milestone, LNG London reaffirms its pioneering role in promoting sustainable, lower-emission bunkering throughout the Amsterdam–Rotterdam–Antwerp (ARA) hub.”

Launched in June 2019, LNG London has a capacity of 3,000 m³, spans 110 m in length, and navigates inland waterways with ease—facilitating efficient LNG supply to both seagoing vessels and barges offshore-energy.

Victrol as the vessel’s operator, emphasises the outstanding performance of the crew and the vessel’s robust design. Built with stringent safety specifications, LNG London strives to maintain high operational standards. This milestone is a tribute to the team’s technical expertise and steadfast dedication.

Building on the good work of LNG London, Shell had also enhanced its bunkering network with the larger Energy Stockholm, an 8,000 m³ bunker vessel, now operating in Antwerp, Rotterdam, Zeebrugge, and Amsterdam.

Related: Europe: ‘LNG London’ bunkering vessel starts operations at Rotterdam
Related: “LNG London” conducts first ship-to-ship LNG bunkering operation at Rotterdam
Related: Bureau Veritas classifies Europe’s largest inland waterway LNG bunker barge
Related: Europe’s largest LNG bunkering barge on maiden voyage to ARA
Related: Shell takes delivery of Europe’s largest inland LNG bunkering vessel

 

Photo credit: Victrol
Published: 14 July 2025

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