Events

Maritime Week Americas to assess how US policy changes will impact bunkering

Event, taking place in May, will try to assess how US policy changes will impact the day-to-day business of shipping and bunkering, as well as the maritime industry’s shift towards a zero carbon future.

Published

1 month ago

April 11, 2025

Admin

Maritime Week Americas to assess how US policy changes will impact bunkering

Maritime Week Americas is coming to the United States amid the trade mayhem and turmoil and will try to assess how US policy changes will impact the day-to-day business of shipping and bunkering, as well as the maritime industry’s shift towards a zero carbon future.

President Donald Trump has wasted no time in overturning the status quo and injecting massive uncertainty into every aspect of world trade, said ship.energy.

With the dust still nowhere near settling, there is no telling when the chaos will end or what the energy, shipping and bunker markets will look like in a month or year from now.

Llewellyn Bankes-Hughes, CEO of ship.energy, founder and organiser of Maritime Week Americas, said: “There is no doubt that the conversations at MWA25 will be livelier that ever as delegates battle to come to terms with a completely new world order. What all this turmoil means to shipping and bunkering, let alone to global, regional, and national economies, will be the question that everyone joining us in Tampa will be asking. Hopefully by the end of the event we will have some answers.”

Maritime Week Americas is always where the key questions are raised and answers are sought. With vigorous debate and frank discussion, well over 250 bunker buyers, suppliers and traders will gather in Tampa for an intense week that includes training, the MWA25 Flagship Conference, and – as always – some unmissable networking.

MWA25 will look at shipping and bunker markets throughout North, Central and South America and the Caribbean, examining traditional bunker markets and the ‘new’ fuels whose take-up is rapidly picking up pace. But can the same be said now for the United States?

Traditional marine fuels are still the mainstay throughout the Americas. The conference will examine fuel quality and quantity issues and take a close look at what is happening in some of the continent’s more active markets, such as Peru and Panama.

There LNG is now a mainstream marine fuel as its availability grows throughout the Americas, with Panama among the newest supply hubs. But is there potential for a backlash over LNG’s green credentials?

Biofuels are also on a fast upward trajectory, with Brazil and other countries now leading the way. But while LNG and biofuels look set to play a key role in fuelling ships for the foreseeable future, other fuels, such as methanol, ammonia and hydrogen may not be too far behind. These, and the full range of alternative fuels will be examined in depth during the MWA Conference.

More ports are now beginning to appreciate the environmental benefits of making shore power available to visiting vessels, with some – such as Miami – currently assessing the benefits of installing electric power facilities and others – such as Seattle – already planning to mandate cold ironing for cruise ships visiting the port. At the same time, more electric-powered vessels are beginning to appear, with Canada’s Montreal and Vancouver currently leading the way with new electric ferries. Meanwhile, the world’s biggest electric-powered ferry is expected to start operating between Buenos Aires in Argentina and Colonia in Uruguay by mid-2025.

For the first time, Maritime week Americas will include an entire session focused on Jamaica, an island determined to revitalise and boost its shipping, maritime and bunkering activities.

As always, MWA25 will feature some exciting networking events, designed to highlight the new venue and to ensure that the delegates take every opportunity to network.

Note: More information on Maritime Week Americas can be found here.

Photo credit: Petrospot
Published: 11 April, 2025

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Milestone

Singapore: Equatorial conducts its first bio-blended LSMGO bunker fuel delivery of 2025

Several key challenges including product sourcing, sustainability certification, product handling, and logistics & planning had to be addressed to execute the complex operation, notes COO of Equatorial.

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May 20, 2025

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Singapore: Equatorial conducts its first bio-blended LSMGO bunker fuel delivery of 2025

Singapore bunker supplier Equatorial Marine Fuel Management Services Pte Ltd (Equatorial) in early May carried out its first bio-blended B24 Low Sulphur Marine Gas Oil (LSMGO) bunker fuel delivery of 2025.

The milestone saw Equatorial’s Singapore-flagged 7,999 dwt IMO Type II bunker tanker EM Nikita delivering Used Cooking Oil Methyl Ester (UCOME) based LSMGO, blended to B24 spec, to an Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL) operated vessel with its electronic bunker delivery note (eBDN).

“This milestone represents not just Equatorial’s first B24 LSMGO delivery, but also a significant step forward for sustainable marine fuel adoption in Singapore,” Choong Sheen Mao, Chief Operating Officer at Equatorial, told Manifold Times.

“It showcases our capability to evolve alongside the market and our commitment to providing certified, traceable, and high-quality biofuels to our customers.”

According to So Kah Meng, Sustainable Energy Manager at Equatorial, several key challenges including product sourcing, sustainability certification, product handling, and logistics & planning had to be addressed to execute the complex operation.

“Bio-blended LSMGO is significantly rarer in the market than bio-blended VLSFO due to limited production capacity, stricter blending requirements, and limited downstream demand. Equatorial secured supply through advanced procurement planning and leveraging trusted ISCC-certified upstream partners,” he explained.

“ISCC EU certification was essential to ensure traceability and regulatory compliance. Equatorial worked closely with its supply chain to ensure full documentation and sustainability verification ahead of the delivery schedule.

“Unlike bio-VLSFO, bio-blended LSMGO’s lower viscosity and pour point demanded additional considerations in tank pre-treatment and temperature control during transfer. Equatorial implemented specialised cleaning protocols and temperature monitoring to maintain fuel integrity.

“Coordination between our UCOME supplier, storage facility, barge planning, and receiving vessel was critical. Equatorial’s in-house technical and commercial teams worked closely with the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and classification societies to ensure regulatory compliance and operational safety.”

Moving forward, Patrick Ng, Assistant Marketing Manager at Equatorial, believed the milestone operation was made possible by the favourable commercial maritime landscape under the supervision of MPA.

“Singapore’s strong regulatory framework, established bunkering infrastructure, and growing customer interest in low-carbon fuels have made it possible for projects like this to be commercially viable,” he stated.

“Equatorial is proud to contribute to Singapore’s decarbonisation leadership.”

Photo credit: Equatorial Marine Fuel Management Services
Published: 20 May 2025

LNG Bunkering

Baleària arranges LNG bunkering operations on same day at Port of Barcelona

Occasion marked the first time three bunkering operations were carried out on three different ships on the same day at the same port in Spain.

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22 hours ago

May 19, 2025

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Baleària arranges three LNG bunkering operations on same day in Barcelona

Spanish shipping company Baleària on Thursday (15 May) said it broke an all-time record for the supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG) with the bunkering of three of its vessels in the port of Barcelona.

The occasion marked the first time three bunkering operations were carried out on three different ships on the same day at the same port in Spain.

The company said the three vessels were fuelled with a total of 2,320 MWh of LNG by eight tankers.

Fast ferry Margarita Salas was fuelled by three tankers simultaneously. Ferry Martín i Soler was fuelled by two tankers and ferry Bahama Mama was bunkered by another three tankers also.

“Our commitment to LNG grew by 184% in 2024. Combined with electric propulsion and other eco-efficiency measures, we have managed to reduce our carbon footprint by almost 10% per passenger,” it said.

Photo credit: Baleària
Published: 19 May, 2025

Bunker Fuel

Vitol launches VLSO and MGO bunker fuel deliveries by barge in West Africa

Latest expansion means that Vitol Bunkers now serves customers in locations across Asia, Australia, Africa, Europe, Middle East and North America.

Published

22 hours ago

May 19, 2025

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Vitol to offer new FuelEU compliant co-processed VLSFO bunker fuel

Marine fuel supplier Vitol Bunkers on Friday (16 May) said it has started supplying bunkers by barge to the West Africa (WAF) region.

The company said it has started with initial deliveries of Very Low Sulphur Fuel (VLSFO) and Marine Gasoil (MGO) and plans to expand its offering to the full spectrum of marine fuels.

“Bunkering by barge offers flexibility of location, taking place wherever there is a need, including Dakar and offshore Lomé,” it said in a statement.

The latest expansion means that Vitol Bunkers now serves customers in locations across Asia, Australia, Africa, Europe, the Middle East and North America.

Ammar Hussaini, Vitol Bunkers, said: “Supplying bunkers by barge to the WAF market allows us to support our customers flexibly in the location and with the fuels that they need.”

Photo credit: Vitol
Published: 19 May, 2025