Digital platform

MPA Chief Executive: Port of Singapore begins digital bunkering initiative today

MPA will explore enhancements, including automating data flow from MFMs, and work with Singapore Standards Council to revise current code of practice to support electronic bunkering documentation.

Published

12 months ago

November 1, 2023

Admin

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) on Monday (1 November) launched its digital bunkering platform, becoming the world’s first port to implement e-BDN.

Eng Dih Teo, Chief Executive of MPA, said this comes following over 100 trials with more than 20 companies since January 2023.

“Just as vehicles must be refuelled or recharged, vessels take in bunker fuel in between ports. Unlike our everyday digital transactions, bunkering vessels involves a tedious process of filling and exchanging more than 10 paper documents per bunkering operation – including physical bunker delivery notes, a standard document required by the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships containing info on fuel delivery.” he said in a social media post.

“Thankfully, with Member States’ support, the 80th Session of the International Maritime Organization Marine Environment Protection Committee approved the use of electronic bunker delivery notes (e-BDN) in July.”

Eng noted that the lengthy processes can be avoided for Singapore, as Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has developed mobile and cloud solutions with industry for electronic exchange of bunkering documentation.

“This allows cargo officers to complete and exchange bunkering documentation without cross-boarding their receiving vessels, enhancing safety. It also increases efficiency by automating manual tasks, and providing transparency of transactions,” he said.

For a start, he said MPA has whitelisted digital bunkering solutions from Angsana Technology Pte Ltd, BTS Pte Ltd and Bunkerchain, and more service providers are expected to come onboard. Due diligence was done to ensure solutions meet cybersecurity, functionality, interoperability and reliability criteria.

“We will explore enhancements, including automating data flow from Mass Flow Meters, and work with Singapore Standards Council to develop a new Specification for digital bunkering supply chain documentation to revise the current SS648:2019 Code of Practice of Bunker Mass Flow Metering to support electronic bunkering documentation.”

He added that licensed bunker suppliers, ship owners, operators and crew are encouraged to use these solutions, which is expected to save about 40,000 man-days yearly for Singapore’s shipping community.

“As a global bunkering hub, Singapore will work with stakeholders to raise efficiency, reduce business costs and enhance fuel operations to better serve ships of the world,” Eng said.

Manifold Times previously reported the involvement of Singapore-based bunker tanker owner/operator and marine fuel supplier Hong Lam Marine, Ocean Network Express and Shell in a successful e-BDN trial.

Photo credit: Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore
Published: 1 November, 2023

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SIBCON 2024: EnterpriseSG to launch new Singapore standard for e-BDN

EnterpriseSG, through the Singapore Standards Council, will launch a new Singapore Standard 709 Specification for Digital Bunkering Supply Chain Documentation.

Published

3 days ago

October 10, 2024

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SIBCON 2024: New Singapore standard on digital bunkering to be launched

Enterprise Singapore (EnterpriseSG), through the Singapore Standards Council (SSC), will launch a new Singapore Standard (SS) 709 Specification for Digital Bunkering Supply Chain Documentation, according to Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) on Wednesday (9 October).

MPA said the new standard will ensure data consistency and interoperability between digital systems and facilitate smoother transactions through trusted and verifiable digital bunkering documents.

This comes following Amy Khor, Senior Minister of State for the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment and the Ministry of Transport, announcing that from 1 April 2025, all bunker suppliers will be required to provide digital bunkering services and issue electronic bunker delivery notes (e-BDNs) as a default.

The move was decided following successful pilots conducted since 1 November 2023 with bunker suppliers, including the top 10 bunker players, in Singapore.

To further enhance transparency and transaction integrity in bunkering operations, MPA will also introduce a centralised e-BDN record verification facility. This enables key stakeholders to verify the e-BDN received against the information transmitted to MPA.

EnterpriseSG has also launched the revised Singapore Standard (SS) 648 Code of Practice for Bunker Mass Flow Metering to include data integrity and transmission requirements in line with this new digital standard.

In the first eight months of 2024, MPA said Singapore saw strong growth of approximately 7% in total bunker sales over the same period last year, reaching over 36 million tonnes. Biofuels and liquefied natural gas bunker sales surpassed 700,00 metric tonnes.

To support the operationalisation of a higher mix of low-carbon alternative fuels, both EnterpriseSG and MPA are developing the Singapore standards for methanol bunkering and ammonia bunkering by 2024 and 2025 respectively.

The standards will cover custody transfer requirements, safety procedures and crew competencies, to ensure safe bunkering operations and handling of these fuels.

MPA also announced that three major shipping lines — Hafnia, K-Line, and MOL — are in early discussions to join the Singapore - Port of Los Angeles (LA)- Port of Long Beach (LB) Green and Digital Shipping Corridor (GDSC) initiative.

Each partner would be expected to spearhead a project to advance the corridor’s decarbonisation and digitalisation goals, such as the adoption of net-zero fuels, Just-in-Time route optimisation, and energy efficiency technologies such as wind-assisted ship propulsion.

The addition of the new partners will significantly strengthen the GDSC’s capacity to drive innovation in sustainable shipping practices and accelerate the adoption of zero/near-zero emission fuels and green technologies along the corridor.

Photo credit: Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore
Published: 10 October, 2024

Technology

SIBCON 2024: TFG Marine to launch ZeroNorth e-BDNs in Singapore

‘We are excited to work with providers such as ZeroNorth to roll out eBDNs to our customers, not only in Singapore but across our global operations,’ says Kenneth Dam, TFG Marine Global Head of Bunkering.

Published

3 days ago

October 10, 2024

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SIBCON 2024: TFG Marine to launch ZeroNorth e-BDNs in Singapore

TFG Marine (TFG), the international marine fuel joint venture founded by Trafigura, Frontline and Golden Ocean, on Wednesday (9 October) said it will introduce ZeroNorth’s electronic bunker delivery notes (eBDNs) solution for its customers in Singapore by the end of the year.

Kenneth Dam, TFG Marine Global Head of Bunkering, made the announcement during the International Trade and Fuel Market Trends panel discussion at the 23rd Singapore International Bunkering Conference (SIBCON).

Dam said: “We are excited to work with providers such as ZeroNorth to roll out eBDNs to our customers, not only in Singapore but across our global operations.”

“This technology will help digitalise the bunker delivery process, reduce administrative burdens, enhance digital documentation, and contribute to a smarter, more connected bunkering sector.”

“We are committed to advocating for the adoption of eBDNs as a global standard for bunker fuel delivery.”

The fully digital solution, accessible through TFG Marine’s mobile app and integrated with SGTraDex digital infrastructure, will enable the inclusion of additional data, such as mass flow meter readings during fuel deliveries.

“This will drive substantial improvements in efficiency, accuracy, compliance, and sustainability across operations, complementing our global mass flow meter global rollout across our fleet and ensuring TFG Marine remains at the forefront of the bunkering industry,” the firm added.

Photo credit: TFG Marine
Published: 10 October, 2024

Alternative Fuels

FuelBoss to continue under new DNV company Ofiniti

‘At Ofiniti, we will continue our dedication to digitalizing bunker operations for all marine fuels through our FuelBoss platform,’ says Martin Christian Wold, the firm’s new CEO.

Published

5 days ago

October 8, 2024

Admin

FuelBoss to continue under new DNV company Ofiniti

Digital bunkering delivery platform FuelBoss, which was established by classification society DNV, will continue to operate under a new company name, Ofiniti.

Martin Christian Wold, in a social media post on Monday (7 October), said he is stepping into the role of CEO at Ofiniti, a newly established company born from a spinout of DNV.

“This marks a significant milestone in a journey that began five years ago, with the conception of an industry platform for LNG bunkering,” he said.

“At Ofiniti, we will continue our dedication to digitalizing bunker operations for all marine fuels through our FuelBoss platform, and I’m incredibly proud of the strong team that will be joining me on this exciting venture.”

“Under this new home, we will continue and grow our FuelBoss platform for digital bunker deliveries and eBDNs.”

Manifold Times previously reported FuelBoss – initially focusing on LNG bunkering operations – expanded operations to include conventional bunker fuels.