Business

MPA extends additional SGD 3.5 million support for MaritimeSG Together Package

Increased support for ferry service operators, ferry terminal operators, ART for high-risk maritime workers among part of Enhanced package.

Published

5 years ago

July 1, 2021

Admin

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) on Wednesday (30 June) said it will top up the MaritimeSG Together Package by SGD 3.5 million to continue supporting the hardest hit sectors in the maritime industry, bringing the cumulative amount of support to more than SGD 36 million.

A 50% office rental rebate and new recovery grant for regional ferry service operators (RFOs) and regional ferry terminal operator to build resilience in their operating models will be introduced under the Package from 1 July to 31 December 2021.

The Government will also be subsidising mandatory Antigen Rapid Tests (ART) for high-risk maritime workers until 30 September 2021.

The Package which was first introduced in May 2020 and extended in January 2021, provides support for companies, individuals and seafarers during the pandemic.

MPA will extend relevant measures under the Package for another six months from 1 July 2021. The support measures being extended include:

Support for passenger-carrying vessels and passenger terminal operators i.e. SATS-Creuers Cruise Services Pte Ltd (SCCS) and Singapore Cruise Centre (Private) Limited (SCCPL);
Support for offshore vessel operators;
Extension of credit terms for maritime companies;
Manpower support schemes for maritime companies and individuals; and
Support for Singaporean seafarers.

Enhanced Support for Regional Ferry Service Sector

S$3 million recovery grant for RFOs and regional ferry terminal operator

The regional ferry service sector continues to experience low passenger traffic during the pandemic due to travel restrictions and border control measures. MPA will provide funding support for projects that improve the implementation of safe management measures for safe sea travels and prevention of COVID-19 transmission. Eligible RFOs and SCCPL, the regional ferry terminal operator, will be able to apply for the grant to undertake qualifying projects which commence between 1 July and 31 December 2021. An example of an improvement project would be the development of an electronic seating manifest system to facilitate contact tracing.

50% office rental rebate for RFOs and regional ferry terminal operator

RFOs and SCCPL will qualify for a 50% rental rebate for their offices for the period from 1 July to 31 December 2021. The rebate will be computed based on the latest contractual gross rent as at 30 June 2021.

Extended support for passenger-carrying vessels and passenger terminal operators

In addition, MPA will continue to provide economic relief to passenger vessel owners and operators, as well as passenger terminal operators, in view of prolonged travel restrictions:

Six-month extension till 31 December 2021 of 50% port dues concession for passenger-carrying vessels, on top of all existing port dues concessions;
Six-month extension till 31 December 2021 of 50% rebate on counter rental and overnight berthing for regional ferry service operators and their ferries; and
100% waiver of public licence fees for passenger terminal operators SCCPL and SCCS for another year, i.e. for the financial year of 2021.

Relief subsidies for mandatory ART testing for high risk maritime workers

MPA had earlier announced increased frequency of rostered routine testing (RRT) of frontline port and regional ferry terminal workers every seven days, as part of additional precautionary measures at the seaport and regional ferry terminals. In addition to RRT, workers are required to take an ART test on the third or fourth day of the 7-day RRT cycle, with costs fully borne by companies or the individual.

To alleviate these costs, MPA will fully subsidise the cost of mandatory ART testing for high-risk maritime workers at MPA appointed medical service providers from 5 July to 31 August 2021.

Employers are also encouraged to enrol into the Employer-Supervised Self Swab (ESSS) Programme. Under the ESSS programme, workers will swab themselves under the supervision of a trained staff at the workplace. The cost of training and ART kits will be borne by the government until 30 September 2021. From 1 October 2021 onwards, companies and individuals should plan and be prepared to bear the cost of mandatory ART testing.

Together with other precautionary measures such as vaccination of maritime personnel and strict adherence of safe management measures, our seaport continues to be able to service ships calling at Singapore. Under the Sea-Air Vaccination Exercise (SAVE), more than 63,800 workers in the maritime sector have received at least one dose of vaccine. Amongst them, more than 52,900 have been fully vaccinated, including more than 19,200, or 99% of frontline maritime workers who are exposed to higher risks. More than 4,300 foreign seafarers who are working in our port waters have received at least one dose of vaccine.

Support for offshore vessel operators

While reduction in offshore oil and gas activities persists, the sector has started to see gradual improvement. MPA will continue to extend assistance to the offshore sector. The 50% port dues concession for MPA-approved offshore support vessels carrying out Category 4 activity from day 91 to day 180 will be extended until 31 December 2021.

Extension of credit terms for maritime companies

Due to the protracted COVID-19 situation, maritime companies may continue to face cash flow pressures. MPA will continue to extend credit terms of up to an additional 45 days (beyond existing 30 days standard credit terms) until 31 December 2021.

Manpower support schemes for maritime companies and individuals

To encourage companies and individuals to continue upskilling and reskilling, MPA will extend the Internship Reimbursement Scheme and increase in co-funding provided under selected Maritime Cluster Fund (MCF) Manpower Development programmes for another six months, until 31 December 2021.

Internship Reimbursement Scheme for maritime companies

MPA had earlier introduced the Internship Reimbursement Scheme to help maritime companies provide students who are Singaporeans or Singapore Permanent Residents with internship opportunities. MPA co-funds 50% of the internship allowance paid by maritime companies, capped at S$500 per month per intern, for up to a maximum period of six months. This scheme will be extended for another six months till 31 December 2021 and will cover internships which commence between 1 May 2020 and 31 December 2021.

Increased co-funding under selected MCF Manpower Development programmes

MPA had earlier increased co-funding support under selected MCF training schemes to up to 90%. This will be extended for another six months till 31 Dec 2021. Eligible courses must commence between 1 May 2020 and 31 December 2021 to qualify for the increased co-funding.

Support for local seafarers

Seafarers Relief Package

Some 500 Singaporean seafarers continue to face uncertainties in securing shipboard employment as border control measures and crew change restrictions are not easing up due to COVID-19. MPA, together with the Singapore Maritime Officers’ Union and the Singapore Organisation of Seamen, will extend the Seafarers Relief Package for eligible Singaporean seafarers who are unable to secure shipboard employment between 1 January and 31 December 2021. They can apply to receive up to S$700 per month in financial assistance, for a maximum of six months.

“As COVID-19 is set to become endemic, Maritime Singapore must continue to build its safe management and manpower capabilities to remain resilient. MPA remains committed to supporting maritime companies, individuals and Singaporean seafarers through a further extension of our relief measures,” said Ms Quah Ley Hoon, Chief Executive of MPA.

Note: Please refer to the Annex on Port Marine Circular 27 of 2021 for details on the extension of the relief measures. More details on the subsidised mandatory ART testing will be released at a later date. All other measures not mentioned will cease with effect from 1 July 2021.

An infographic on the MaritimeSG Together Package can be downloaded here.

Photo credit: Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore
Published: 1 July, 2021

Bunker Fuel

JLC China Bunker Fuel Market Monthly Report (August 2026)

China sold 1.61 million mt of bonded bunker fuel in August, with the daily sales at 51,974 mt, down by 9.62% month on month, JLC’s data shows.

Published

19 hours ago

September 11, 2026

Admin

Beijing-based commodity market information provider JLC Network Technology Co. recently shared its JLC China Bunker monthly report for August 2026 with Manifold Times through an exclusive arrangement:

Bunker Fuel Demand

China’s bonded bunker fuel sales decline in August

China sold 1.61 million mt of bonded bunker fuel in August, with the daily sales at 51,974 mt, down by 9.62% month on month, JLC’s data shows.

Typhoons continued in many regions in August, and some ports in East China even suspended bunkering temporarily.

Meanwhile, bonded bunker fuel supply at some domestic ports remained tight, which also dragged down the sales.

Shipowners were still cautious about bunkering as bonded bunker fuel prices remained on the rise.

Regarding the sales by supplier, the sales by Chimbusco, Sinopec (Zhoushan), SinoBunker, and China Changjiang Bunker (Sinopec) respectively settled at 315,000 mt, 620,000 mt, 57,000 mt, and 5,000 mt in the month, while those by suppliers with regional bunkering licenses settled at 614,200 mt.

China’s LSFO output drops in August

Chinese refiners produced about 1.12 million mt of low-sulfur fuel oil (LSFO) in August, with the daily output at 36,258 mt, a cut of 12.87% month on month, JLC’s data shows.

Specifically, Sinopec’s LSFO output slipped in the month, as refineries were more inclined to produce gasoline and diesel when cracking spreads of these two products increased.

Meanwhile, certain refineries were still under maintenance, which also capped the overall output.

PetroChina lowered its refineries’ LSFO production plans due to tightening export quotas.

By contrast, CNOOC recorded an increase in its output, with T aizhou Petrochemical resuming production.

Zhoushan Petrochemical did not produce any LSFO in the month.

ZPC and Sinochem did not produce any LSFO in the month, but the latter produced and exported 10,000 mt of marine gas oil (MGO).

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Screenshot 2026 09 11 at 1.38.09 PM

Domestic-trade bunker fuel demand weakens in August

Domestic-trade bunker fuel demand continued to weaken in August, as inland and coastal shipping remained seasonally tepid and port operations in East China were hindered by severe weather.

Domestic-trade heavy bunker fuel demand settled at 270,000 mt in the month, with the daily demand at 8,710 mt, down by 10.00% month on month, JLC’s data shows.

In the meantime, domestic-trade light bunker fuel demand fell to 120,000 mt, with the daily volume at 3,871 mt, down by 14.29% from the prior month, the data shows. Downstream buying interest was depressed by high MGO prices.

Bunker Fuel Supply

China’s bonded bunker fuel imports increase in July

China’s bonded bunker fuel imports increased in July, as some bonded distributors resumed imports of LSFO after a three-month suspension.

The country imported 530,400 mt of bonded bunker fuel in the month, a modest boost of 2.93% month on month, calculations show, based on the GACC data.

Bonded bunker suppliers imported some LSFO to meet demand when domestic production retreated.

In addition, they increased purchases of imported high-sulfur fuel oil (HSFO) in June when the conflict between the U.S. and Iran eased, leading to a rise in the arrivals for July.

The arrivals of imported MGO also grew in July.

On a year-on-year comparison, however, China’s bonded bunker fuel imports plunged by 17.54% in July.

Regarding the imports by source, Russia remained the largest supplier by exporting 234,600 mt of bonded bunker fuel to China, accounting for 44.23% of the latter’s total imports. Singapore became the second largest supplier with 153,800 mt, accounting for 29.00%, while South Korea slipped to the third place with 81,100 mt, accounting for 15.30%. Japan ranked fourth with 60,800 mt, accounting for 11.47%.

China’s bonded bunker fuel imports totaled 3.91 million mt in the first seven months of this year, an increase of 1.68% from the same period of time in 2025, calculations also indicate.

Screenshot 2026 09 11 at 1.38.32 PM

Domestic-trade bunker fuel supply tightens in August

Chinese blenders supplied 250,000 mt of domestic-trade heavy bunker fuel in August, with the daily supply at 8,065 mt, down by 7.41% month on month, JLC’s data shows.

Despite some unit restarts, blendstock supply was still relatively tight, especially low-sulfur residual oil supply .

Meanwhile, blenders in North China showed lower blending interest amid stricter tax inspections, and they maintained low inventories of consumption-tax-included bunker fuel.

Domestic-trade MGO supply settled at 150,000 mt in August, with the daily supply at 4,839 mt, down by 11.76% month on month, the data shows. Refineries’ production enthusiasm was dampened by high feedstock costs and tight feedstock supply.

Screenshot 2026 09 11 at 1.38.47 PM

Bunker Prices, Profits

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Sales (Beijing)
Tony Tang
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JLC Network Technology Co., Ltd is recognised as the leading information provider in China. We specialise in providing the transparent, high-value, authoritative market intelligence and professional analysis in commodity market. Our expertise covers oil, gas, coal, chemical, plastic, rubber, fertilizer and metal industry, etc.

JLC China Bunker Fuel Market Monthly Report is published by JLC Network Technology Co., Ltd every month on China bunker market, demand, supply, margin, freight index, forecast and so on. The report provides full-scale & concise insight into China bunker oil market.

Note: China-based commodity market information provider JLC Technology has been providing Singapore bunkering publication Manifold Times China bunker volume data since 2020. Data from earlier periods are available here.

Photo credit: JLC Network Technology
Published: 11 September, 2026

Ammonia

Amogy and LOTTE Fine Chemical to explore ammonia bunkering in South Korea

Under a MoU, both will explore supplying ammonia to vessels equipped with Amogy’s Ammonia-to-Power technology, leveraging LFC’s ammonia terminal at Ulsan Port and ship-bunkering capabilities.

Published

20 hours ago

September 11, 2026

Admin

Amogy, LOTTE Fine Chemical to explore ammonia bunkering in South Korea

Ammonia-to-power solutions provider Amogy and LOTTE Fine Chemical Co Ltd (LFC) on Thursday (10 September) announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly advance ammonia-to-hydrogen and ammonia-to-power solutions in South Korea.

Under the MoU, Amogy and LFC will explore collaboration across three priority areas that combine LFC’s ammonia supply and infrastructure capabilities with Amogy’s downstream ammonia cracking and power generation technology.

In hydrogen refuelling infrastructure, LFC would supply green ammonia through its overseas procurement and domestic infrastructure, with Amogy’s ammonia cracking technology converting the ammonia into high-purity hydrogen on-site for use at hydrogen refueling stations.

For distributed ammonia-to-power generation at commercial and community-scale sites, LFC would provide ammonia supply, storage, and logistics, while Amogy would provide its Ammonia-to-Power generation modules, including fuel cell or internal combustion engine configurations.

In marine ammonia bunkering, the companies would explore supplying ammonia to vessels equipped with Amogy’s Ammonia-to-Power technology, leveraging LFC’s ammonia terminal at Ulsan Port and ship-bunkering capabilities.

“As Korea continues to build out its clean ammonia and hydrogen infrastructure, partnerships that connect upstream supply with downstream technology are essential to accelerating deployment,” said Seonghoon Woo, CEO of Amogy.

“LOTTE Fine Chemical’s ammonia infrastructure, paired with our ammonia-to-hydrogen and ammonia-to-power technology, gives us a strong foundation to advance hydrogen refuelling, distributed power, and marine applications across the region.”

“LFC has built the infrastructure to import, store, and supply ammonia safely and at scale, including the world’s first ship-bunkering supply of ammonia,” said Suk Min Hwang, Vice President of Ammonia Business Division at LOTTE Fine Chemical.

“This collaboration with Amogy allows us to extend that infrastructure into new downstream applications, supporting Korea’s transition to a clean ammonia and hydrogen economy.”

LFC has achieved the world’s first commercial import of green ammonia in addition to the world’s first domestic ship-bunkering supply using green ammonia.

Amogy’s proprietary ammonia cracking technology enables the efficient conversion of ammonia into hydrogen, supporting both high-purity hydrogen production and ammonia-to-power generation across stationary, distributed, and marine applications.

Building on the MoU, Amogy and LFC will continue joint evaluation of collaboration opportunities across hydrogen refuelling, distributed power, and marine ammonia bunkering, with further details on project scope and timing to be finalised for execution.

Photo credit: Amogy
Published: 11 September, 2026

Events

PIL’s new LNG dual-fuel boxship “Kota Elan” makes maiden call in Singapore

“Kota Elan” is currently operating on PIL’s East Coast Service 1 (ES1) route that connects Asia with South America and is now on its way to Brazil.

Published

20 hours ago

September 11, 2026

Admin

PIL’s new LNG dual-fuel boxship “Kota Elan” makes maiden call in Singapore

Singapore-based Pacific International Lines Pte Ltd (PIL) on Thursday (10 September) said its newest 13,000 TEU LNG dual-fuel container vessel Kota Elan made its maiden call in Singapore on 4 September.

In a social media post, PIL said a ceremony was held on board the vessel where representatives from PSA Singapore presented a commemorative plaque to the Master of Kota Elan, Captain Thanabalan Govindaraju, marking its inaugural call at one of the world’s busiest and most connected ports.

The company said Kota Elan is currently operating on PIL’s East Coast Service 1 (ES1) route that connects Asia with South America.

The vessel is now on its way to Brazil, before calling at Uruguay and Argentina, and then finally returning to Asia.

“As one of the latest additions to our growing fleet of greener vessels, Kota Elan reflects PIL’s commitment to building a more sustainable future for shipping through cleaner and more efficient operations,” the company said.

Photo credit: Pacific International Lines
Published: 11 September, 2026