Connect with us

Business

IPEC 2024: China’s largest bunkering port highlights ‘breakthroughs’ in five key areas

Zhoushan official shares progress of local bunkering industry; including infrastructures and logistics of alternative bunker fuels, white-listed bunker barges, and MFMs.
Admin

Published

2 years ago

on

cui yi ling IPEC SPEECH MT

Bunkering publication Manifold Times, an official media partner of the 7th International Petroleum and Natural Gas Enterprises Conference, was present at the event to report on the following development:

Several improvements have taken place within China’s largest bunkering port since 2023 to date, said the Deputy Director of Zhoushan High-tech Zone Administrative Committee on Thursday (17 October).

Cui Yiling was giving a speech to delegates at the 7th International Petroleum and Natural Gas Enterprises Conference (IPEC 2024) in Zhoushan, Zhejiang province when she highlighted “breakthroughs” in five areas at Zhoushan port.

“Since the beginning of this year, we have benchmarked ourselves against world class ports following the highest international standards and requirements to support the development of Zhoushan’s bunkering industry,” said Ms Cui.

“We focused on maritime low carbon transition, service efficiency & improvement, market standardisation, sector engagement, and value creation – resulting in breakthroughs in five aspects.”

Green marine fuels

“Zhoushan is entering a new stage for the supply of clean marine fuels. To date, the number of LNG (liquefied natural gas) bunkering entities at Zhoushan port increased to two, while customs have approved the construction of a new 160,000 m3 (cubic meter) LNG bonded tank,” she stated.

“New biofuel blending policies are expected to be implemented in Zhoushan before the end of this year and a 1 million annual mt (metric tonne) capacity biofuel production plant is being constructed. 200,000 mt of biofuel will be put into production next year though pilot blending projects.

“A pilot truck-to-ship methanol bunkering operation was carried out and construction of methanol bunkering barges have been launched. We are in talks with stakeholders to secure green methanol.”

Operational improvements

Ms Cui noted the number of anchorages at Zhoushan port rose to 86 positions in 2024, resulting in increasing efficiency of bunkering operations. Meanwhile, the maritime department has implemented all-weather anchorage positions which are able to meet the bunkering requirements of various ship types.

Overall, bunker barges at Zhoushan have become larger and more specialised. A total of 52 white-listed bunker barges, about half having more than 4,000 mt capacity, are currently registered with the port. The figure includes 18 Zhoushan type bunker tankers with the largest having a capacity of 7,000 mt.

More than 2.73 million m3 of oil storage capacity was added to Zhoushan this year. To date, the total oil storage capacity of Zhoushan has exceeded 38 million m3.

Market standardisation

“The maritime digital fuel station has been upgraded and we are now able to supervision all parties involved in a bunkering fuel supply operation in Zhoushan,” she shared.

“In conjunction with the CPCA (China Petroleum Circulation Association), we have also launched a group technical standard for MFMs (mass flowmeters) this year and there are plans to complete the certification work of another three bunker tankers to meet ISO 22192 bunkering standards by end of this year.

“Our maritime joint law enforcement branch has been strictly controlling key links, such as barge tendering, oil transportation, and bunker measurement of marine refuelling operations. Barges not meeting regulations have been withdrawn accordingly [from the whitelist].”

Industry engagement

Ms Cui noted representatives of the Zhoushan High-tech Zone Administrative Committee have been also carrying out regular visits to large domestic and foreign shipowners and oil traders.

This year, strategic cooperations have been formed between international business entities at Rotterdam and Singapore to further develop Zhoushan’s bunkering sector; including in the areas of overseas publicity through a cooperative agreement with Singapore bunkering publication Manifold Times.

Manifold Times x Zhoushan port mou signing MT

Market research on new fuels has been carried out, and cooperation agreements have been formed between bunker fuel suppliers, traders, producers, and other stakeholders to jointly enhance the international influence and reputation of Zhoushan as a bonded bunker oil center.

Value creation

To date, approximately 1,600 maritime service firms have gathered at Zhoushan to help the island achieve a leading maritime position within China, she said.

“Zhoushan currently accounts for about 40% of China’s repair output and crew transfer volume, and about a-third of our country’s newbuilding capacity; we are the largest foreign ship repair base and crew transfer port in China,” explained Ms Cui.

“In the first half of this year, the total output of maritime services at Zhoushan reached RMB 32.2 billion representing a year-on-year increase of more than 31%.

“Moving forward, we will continue to focus on the goal of creating a world class hub for the allocation of commodity resources and continue to make efforts in the areas of innovation, regulatory, training and more to further establish Zhoushan as Northeast Asia’s top bonded ship fuel refilling center.”

Related: IPEC 2024: CPCA releases lists of top ten global bunkering ports and marine fuel suppliers
Related: IPEC 2024: Zhoushan port records 7.04 million mt annual bunker volume for 2023
Related: China: Zhoushan to host 7th IPEC commodities, bunker conferences on 16 to 17 October

 

Photo credit [first image]: Zhoushan High-tech Zone Administrative Committee
Photo credit [second image]: Zhoushan Daily
Published: 25 October 2024

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

Winding up

Singapore: High Court to hear Norvic Shipping Asia winding up application on 31 July

Application for the winding up of Norvic Shipping Asia Pte Ltd was filed by Netherlands-registered Mur Shipping BV on 8 April, according to Government Gazette notice.
Admin

Published

13 hours ago

on

July 22, 2026

By

RESIZED singapore high court

An application for the winding up of Norvic Shipping Asia Pte Ltd was filed by Netherlands-registered Mur Shipping BV on 8 April, according to a Tuesday (21 July) notice on the Government Gazette.

It noted the winding up application is directed to be heard before the Judge sitting in the General Division of the High Court at 10am on 31 July.

Any creditor or contributory of the company desiring to support or oppose the making of an order on the winding up application may appear at the time of hearing by himself or his counsel for that purpose.

A copy of the winding up application will be furnished to any creditor or contributory of the company requiring the copy of the winding up application by the solicitors of the applicant’s, Oon & Bazul LLC, on payment of the regulated charge for the same.

The Applicant’s address is Hiridostraat 5, Gebouw Prismatrium, 1101CW Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

The Applicant’s solicitors are Oon & Bazul LLC of 103 Penang Rd, #04-04/05/06 Singapore 238467. 

Queries on the winding up application may be directed to the following email addresses: [email protected] and [email protected].

 

Photo credit: Manifold Times
Published: 22 July, 2026

Continue Reading

Methanol

World Fuel and partners complete first green methanol bunkering of car carrier in Shanghai

Operation involved the delivery of approximately 2,800 MT of green methanol to “Arctic Tern” via a ship-to-ship transfer using SIPG Energy’s dedicated methanol bunkering vessel “M/V Hai Gang Zhi Yuan”.
Admin

Published

13 hours ago

on

July 22, 2026

By

World Fuel and partners complete first green methanol bunkering of car carrier in Shanghai

Marine fuel provider World Fuel on Tuesday (21 July) said it successfully completed the first green methanol bunkering of M/V Arctic Tern, with EUKOR Car Carriers and SIPG Energy at the Port of Shanghai. 

Arctic Tern is the first vessel in the new Shaper Class series of car carriers. 

The operation involved the delivery of approximately 2,800 MT of green methanol to Arctic Tern via a ship-to-ship transfer using SIPG Energy’s dedicated methanol bunkering vessel M/V Hai Gang Zhi Yuan, the largest vessel of its kind in operation. 

The bunkering operation was carried out at Haitong Terminal, Waigaoqiao Port Area, Shanghai Port, with cargo handling operations conducted simultaneously during bunkering.

This marks EUKOR Car Carriers’ first green methanol operation and the first time Arctic Tern has bunkered methanol since its delivery on 9 July. The operation marked the first bunkering at Shanghai Port of green methanol produced locally in Shanghai for an international PCTC operator. 

It also demonstrated the city’s integrated green methanol value chain, spanning local production, storage and bunkering, and established a replicable “Shanghai Model” for green methanol supply.

World Fuel arranged the supply and delivery of the fuel on behalf of EUKOR Car Carriers, working with SIPG Energy as the physical supplier at the Port of Shanghai.

The green methanol supplied was produced from municipal solid waste, ISCC-EU certified, and had a carbon intensity value below 25 gCO₂e/MJ.

Arctic Tern is the first of fourteen Shaper Class vessels ordered by Wallenius Wilhelmsen. With a capacity of 9,300 car equivalent units and methanol dual-fuel capability, the vessel will be operated by EUKOR Car Carriers, jointly owned by Wallenius Wilhelmsen and Hyundai Motor Group. Following her first green methanol bunkering, Arctic Tern will continue her maiden voyage from Asia to Europe.

Xavier Leroi, COO Shipping Services at Wallenius Wilhelmsen and CEO of EUKOR Car Carriers, said: “Completing Arctic Tern’s first green methanol bunkering shortly after delivery is a significant milestone towards our decarbonisation ambition for both EUKOR Car Carriers and Wallenius Wilhelmsen. It demonstrates how investments in next-generation vessel technology and fuel flexibility are being translated into real-world operations. 

“This achievement reflects the strong collaboration between all parties involved. Together, we have shown how partnerships across the maritime value chain can help make lower-emission fuels available and operationally viable at scale.”

Mark Tamsitt, SVP Global Marine Sales at World Fuel, said, “The first bunkering event with a new fuel is a significant moment for any shipowner, and our role is to make it as seamless as possible. By connecting EUKOR Car Carriers with SIPG Energy’s proven green methanol capability at the Port of Shanghai, we were able to deliver on reliable supply, fuel quality, and safe processes. As more of our customers bring methanol dual-fuel tonnage into service, we are committed to being the partner that makes these kinds of operations routine.”

Mr. Zhang Da, General Manager of SIPG Energy, said, “Welcoming Arctic Tern to the Port of Shanghai for her first green methanol bunkering demonstrates the strength and maturity of our supply capability. Building on our well-established methanol ship-to-ship bunkering services for container vessels, we have already extended such services to pure car and truck carriers (PCTCs). This bunkering sets a new record for the largest single SIMOPs green methanol bunkering for PCTCs in China, marking another step in building Shanghai’s position as a global green energy hub for international shipping.”

This operation follows Wallenius Wilhelmsen’s announcement on 9 July that Arctic Tern would complete her first methanol bunkering shortly after delivery. The vessel entered service on routes between Asia and Europe immediately following handover from China Merchants Jinling Shipyard in Nanjing.

 

Photo credit: World Fuel
Published: 22 July, 2026

Continue Reading

Ammonia

HPA and MB Energy develop safety concept for STS ammonia bunkering

HPA says the Port of Hamburg will become “bunker ready” for ammonia, laying the groundwork for safe and reliable ammonia bunkering in the future.
Admin

Published

13 hours ago

on

July 22, 2026

By

HPA and MB Energy develop safety concept for STS ammonia bunkering

The Hamburg Port Authority (HPA) and integrated energy company MB Energy on Tuesday (21 July) said they have completed a comprehensive risk analysis and developed a dedicated safety concept for ship-to-ship ammonia bunkering.

MB Energy said the analysis lays the groundwork for the safe introduction of ammonia as a future marine fuel.

“With our planned ammonia import terminal in Hamburg-Blumensand, MB Energy intends to provide the reliable land side supply infrastructure needed to support this transition across northern German ports,” it said in a social media post. 

Mabanaft Group was renamed to MB Energy last year and merged over 50 existing brands under one identity. 

Separately, HPA said the Port of Hamburg will become “bunker ready” for ammonia, laying the groundwork for safe and reliable ammonia bunkering in the future.

“The focus is in particular on container ships, cruise ships as well as RoRo and ConRo (Container/RoRo) ships,” it said. 

“We expect ammonia to establish itself as an alternative marine marine fuel in the coming years. With our preparatory work, we are already creating the conditions to welcome the first ammonia-powered ships in Hamburg and to bunker them safely.:

HPA added that the import terminal for ammonia planned by MB Energy from 2029 will make a decisive contribution to ensuring the reliable availability of ammonia as a bunker fuel in northern German ports in the long term. 

“The use of an ammonia bunker barge is considered a possible addition to the landside infrastructure to enable ship bunkering in the port and beyond in the future,” it said.

Related: Mabanaft Group renames as MB Energy, merging over 50 brands under one identity

 

Photo credit: Hamburg Port Authority
Published: 22 July, 2026

Continue Reading

Trending