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International Safety@Sea interview: MPA shares what it means to conduct bunkering operations in the ‘new norm’

Captain Daknash Ganasen, Senior Director (Operations & Marine Services), MPA, provides direction on what should players do when providing bunker fuel to a COVID-19 infected ship, and more.

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Singapore bunker tankers

Captain Daknash Ganasen, Senior Director (Operations & Marine Services), Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) recently spent time with Singapore bunkering publication Manifold Times to share what it means to conduct marine refuelling operations in the era of the ‘new normal’ during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The following interview is conducted as part of event coverage for the MPA’s International Safety@Sea Webinar Series:

Do you think the current recommendations by the port authority for bunker tanker crew and bunker surveyors are enough? Also, what additional measures can they adopt on top of the MPA recommendations to take health and safety to the next level?

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has been monitoring local and overseas developments closely. Through port marine notices, MPA has proactively advised the maritime community, including bunkering companies, on the precautionary measures that the industry should adopt. In August this year, MPA issued a bunkering notice to bunker suppliers, craft operators and surveying companies to update them on a set of precautionary measures to minimise the risk of contracting COVID-19 during bunkering operations in the Port of Singapore. These precautionary measures include wearing surgical masks, gloves and face shields, maintaining safe distance and minimising exposure to enclosed environments. MPA also encouraged the implementation of contactless bunkering operations whenever possible.

All parties will have to remain vigilant and abide by the precautionary measures at all times to keep themselves safe and healthy, while ensuring that bunkering operations in Singapore continue to be reliable, efficient and transparent.

If a bunker tanker crew and bunker surveyor is suspected to be in contact with a COVID-19 infected vessel, what should they do?

In addition to informing his company/employer, the individual should also notify the Port Health Office and seek its advice. In the event of a confirmed case, Singapore’s Ministry of Health (MOH) conducts contact tracing to identify the close contacts of COVID-19 confirmed patients. Close contacts will be advised by MOH officials on the measures they should take.

MPA also recommends that the master of the vessel disinfects common areas and rooms in the vessel based on the Interim Guidelines for Environmental Cleaning and Disinfection of Areas Exposed to Confirmed Case(s) of COVID-19 in Non-Healthcare Commercial Premises prepared by the National Environment Agency.

How safe is it to provide marine fuel to a COVID-19 infected vessel? What precautions should a bunker supplier take if they know the vessel has infected crew on board?

Visiting ships calling at the Port of Singapore are required to submit a Medical Declaration of Health 24 hours prior to arrival and notify the Port Health Office of any confirmed/suspected COVID-19 cases aboard their ships. Marine services will continue to be provided to ships with identified cases of confirmed/suspected COVID-19 aboard. However, contactless operations will have to be implemented for the provision of these services in order to mitigate the risk of importing COVID-19 into Singapore.

How long do you expect such COVID-19 enhanced precautions for the maritime sector to last? Is this the new norm for the maritime sector moving forward?

MPA is closely monitoring the global COVID-19 pandemic, together with other government agencies. We will take guidance from MOH and the Ministry of Manpower on the precautionary measures to be adopted at workplaces.

What advise can you give to companies to handle crew stuck onboard bunker tankers for an extended period of time?

MPA recognises the importance of crew change to safeguard the health and well-being of crew members. We have worked with the industry to put in place a set of procedures to ensure that crew change can be safely conducted in the Port of Singapore with measures implemented to mitigate possible COVID-19 importation risks.  We have been facilitating crew changes for the harbour craft sector, which include crew members aboard bunker tankers, since Circuit Breaker. In reducing the risks of importing COVID-19 cases, the implementation of precautionary measures may result in crew change delays. MPA encourages companies to engage their crew regularly to apprise them of the situation and to seek their understanding during these unprecedented times.

 

Photo credit: Manifold Times
Published: 1 December, 2020

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Business

Singapore: Maritime Census 2023 survey deadline extended to 23 October 

‘MPA is conducting an annual survey to collect timely statistics on the maritime industry’s activities, technology, sustainability and manpower developments,’ says the port authority.

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SG bunker tanker sailing Photo by Manifold Times

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) on Wednesday (27 September) said the Maritime Census 2023 survey deadline has been extended to 23 October. 

“MPA is conducting an annual survey to collect timely statistics on the maritime industry’s activities, technology, sustainability and manpower developments,” it said in a social media post. 

Maritime firms selected for the survey will be notified by email or post to complete the survey online via go.gov.sg/mpasurvey

“Your participation will help us shape policies and programmes that will drive #MaritimeSG forward,” it added. 

Manifold Times previously reported MPA announcing it was conducting the census to collect timely statistics. 

Related: Singapore: MPA conducts Maritime Census 2023 to collect timely statistics

Photo credit: Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore
Published: 28 September, 2023

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Alternative Fuels

GCMD, BCG survey highlights three maritime decarbonisation archetypes

Survey identified three decarbonisation archetypes within the shipping industry, differentiated in their outlook, investment appetite and the challenges faced.

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RESIZED Venti Views on Unsplash ship vessel

The Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD) and Boston Consulting Group (BCG) conducted an industry survey to take stock of shipowners and operators’ progress in establishing six elements needed for the shipping industry to reach net zero, according to BCG on Wednesday (27 September). 

The survey saw strong participation from 128 shipowners and operators across vessel types, fleet sizes and geographies, which collectively own or operate 14,000 merchant vessels, and account for USD500 billion in revenue.

The duo found high decarbonisation ambitions: Most respondents viewed net zero as a strategic priority, and 77% had already set concrete decarbonisation targets. The industry has also mobilised resources to decarbonise: respondents are investing 2% of their revenues into green initiatives, and 87% have personnel working toward green objectives.

The path to net zero for shipowners and operators requires six elements:

  • A robust strategy and roadmap
  • Four specific decarbonisation levers to reduce emissions: operational efficiency, technological efficiency, fuel transition, and shipboard carbon capture
  • Enablers such as dedicated sustainability teams, strategic investments in green initiatives, internal carbon prices, and digitalization

While the industry has made some progress in adopting mature and cost-effective efficiency levers, adoption of complex or nascent levers remains low. Drop-in green fuels are constrained by costs and supply-side gaps, and optimism for future cleaner fuels is yet to translate into firm commitment.

The industry is now at a pivotal point, with many shipowners and operators ramping up their decarbonisation efforts. Three-quarters of respondents plan to increase investments in green initiatives. Stakeholders can build on this momentum with a variety of supportive actions. But to be effective, they need to tailor their interventions to address the specific challenges that shipowners and operators face at each stage of decarbonisation.

Three Decarbonisation Archetypes

GCMD and BCG saw three archetypes, differentiated in their outlook, investment appetite, and the challenges faced.

Frontrunners have the greatest ambitions and are willing to invest heavily. They are pushing boundaries, adopting even nascent decarbonisation levers, such as wind propulsion and air lubrication. A majority plan to pilot shipboard carbon capture solutions by 2025. Frontrunners are also planning to adopt methanol and ammonia as early as 2026 and 2029 respectively, and the availability of fuels and bunkering infrastructure will be critical to enabling adoption.

Followers believe in decarbonising their fleets, but have tighter investment thresholds and a near-term outlook. They have kept pace with Frontrunners in adopting mature and cost-effective efficiency levers, such as main engine improvements and slow steaming, but are behind in the adoption of nascent levers, such as wind propulsion and air lubrication.

Conservatives are still early in their decarbonisation journey, likely due to a lack of awareness and familiarity with the various decarbonisation levers, and the capabilities to assess and deploy them. They are best supported by measures that increase their familiarity with the levers and help contextualise them to their specific fleets and operational requirements.

The research highlights five key actions for stakeholders:

Conduct technical pilots and facilitate data sharing, especially for nascent levers

  • Create innovative financing mechanisms to de-risk adoption of less mature levers
  • Raise awareness, contextualize levers, and build capabilities, especially among Conservatives
  • Start to build out future fuels infrastructure at ports
  • Develop mechanisms to equalize and share the costs of levers across the ecosystem
  • Maritime decarbonization is a complex, critical endeavor. The successful implementation of these five key actions demands a whole-of-value-chain approach. By working together, stakeholders can transform the maritime sector into a beacon of environmental stewardship, and set a course for a greener future where decarbonization and commercial success go hand in hand.

Note: The GCMD-BCG Global Maritime Decarbonisation Survey report can be downloaded here.

Photo credit: Venti Views on Unsplash
Published: 28 September, 2023

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Ammonia

Itochu enters MoU with firms for study of ammonia bunkering safety for container carrier

Through this cooperation, several companies and organisations will come together to discuss and study safety issues during ammonia bunkering of a container carrier that uses ammonia as a bunker fuel.

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Itochu enters MoU with firms for study of ammonia bunkering safety for container carrier

Tokyo-based Itochu Corporation on Tuesday (22 September) said it has executed a Memorandum of Understanding for a joint study of ammonia bunkering safety for an ammonia-fuelled container carrier among eight companies and organisations with the aim of implementing the use of ammonia as a bunker fuel in shipping industry. 

Through this cooperation, several companies and organisations will come together to discuss and study safety issues during ammonia bunkering of a container carrier that uses ammonia as a main fuel.

“This MOU for Ammonia Bunkering Safety for Container Carrier is an important milestone for social implementation of the use of ammonia as marine fuel on a global scale, and also a necessary step toward the realisation of the Integrated Project consisting of the construction of a global ammonia supply chain and the development of ammonia-fuelled ships by ITOCHU and its partner companies,” the firm said in a statement. 

A joint study that will be carried out under the MOU is a successive phase of the existing Joint Study Framework launched in 2021 by 34 companies and organizations including ITOCHU and Joint Study Framework for Ammonia Bunkering Safety launched in 2022 by 16 companies and organizations including ITOCHU, and focused on discussion and study of safety issues of ammonia bunkering to ammonia-fueled container carriers among experts from port authorities, container liner operators, bunkering related players and shipping company. 

A key subject of the joint study under this MOU for Ammonia Bunkering Safety for Container Carrier is the safety assessment for simultaneous operations of container cargo operations and ammonia bunkering in a container terminal, which is generally required for container carriers to achieve operational efficiencies.

ITOCHU said it is promoting a development of ammonia-fueled container carriers with potential partners following the development of ammonia-fuelled bulk carrier, which obtained Approval in Principle in 2022. ITOCHU will accelerate the development of an ammonia-fueled container carrier based on findings of this MOU for Ammonia Bunkering Safety for Container Carrier and plans to bring it to the international shipping market in late 2020s.

ITOCHU will accelerate the development of sustainable energy systems through these initiatives and ensure its contributions to the SDGs and improvement of related efforts, one of the basic policies laid out in its new medium-term management plan, as the company pursues a low-carbon society.

The eight companies and organisations are; Algeciras Bay Port Authority, Spain; Port of Rotterdam, Netherlands; CMA CGM, France; A.P.Moller Maersk A/S, Denmark; Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Japan; Pavilion Energy Singapore, Singapore; TotalEnergies Marine Fuels, Singapore; and ITOCHU. 

Related: Itochu-led joint study of ammonia as an alternative marine fuel expands to 34 players
Related: 23 industry players participate in joint study of ammonia as an alternative marine fuel
Related: Singapore: Pavilion Energy, MOL, Total join Itochu and Vopak ammonia bunker fuel study
Related: Spain: Itochu, Peninsula enter MOU for joint development of ammonia bunkering in Gibraltar Strait
Related: Japan: “K” Line, ITOCHU and partners receive ClassNK AiP for ammonia-fuelled bulk carrier

Photo credit: Itochu Corporation
Published: 28 September, 2023

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