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MPA: Singapore bunker tanker fleet expected to run on net zero fuels by 2050

Net zero fuels such as ammonia, hydrogen, or methanol to be fuels used by Singapore’s 250 larger-sized harbour craft, mainly bunker tankers, by 2050.

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Domestic harbour craft

Singapore’s bunker tankers will be expected to run on net zero fuels such as ammonia, hydrogen, or methanol by 2050, according to a recent Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) report.

The Maritime Singapore Decarbonisation Blueprint: Working Towards 2050 document introduced Wednesday (9 March) outlined the future energy mix of Singapore’s domestic harbour craft fleet.

“By 2030, MPA aims to reduce absolute emissions from the domestic harbour craft fleet by 15% from 2021 levels, through the adoption of lower carbon energy solutions such as blended biofuel, LNG, diesel-electric hybrid propulsion, and full electric propulsion,” it states in the blueprint.

“By 2050, MPA aims for the harbour craft fleet to halve 2030-level emissions by transitioning to full-electric propulsion and net zero fuels.”

MPA in collaboration with the Maritime Energy & Sustainable Development Centre of Excellence (MESD CoE), a research unit jointly funded by Singapore Maritime Institute (SMI) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU), started a study of potential energy options for Singapore’s harbour craft industry over a thirty-year horizon.

The study completed in March 2020 evaluated and ranked ten energy types, taking into consideration their existing levels of adoption as well as future potential for deployment in the local harbour craft fleet.

Biofuel Compatibility Study for Singapore Harbour Craft

Findings from the study indicated biofuels (fatty acid methyl esters and hydrotreated vegetable oil) were the most feasible interim transition fuel, while LNG could be suitable for some larger types of harbour craft.

Other future fuels and energy solutions (including fuel cells, full electric battery systems, ammonia, hydrogen, and methanol) could gain maturity and commercial viability in the long term to achieve 2050 targets.

Based on the study’s findings and taking into consideration the diverse range of harbour craft types in Singapore’s domestic fleet, the 1,350 smaller-sized harbour craft – comprising launches, lighters, passenger ferries, tugboats – are expected to transit to fuel cells or full electric battery systems by 2050.

The 250 larger-sized harbour craft – mainly bunker tankers – are expected to run on net zero fuels such as ammonia, hydrogen, or methanol by the similar year.

Dr Sanjay Kuttan, the Executive Director at Singapore Maritime Institute (SMI), earlier told Manifold Times that it is ‘a matter of time’ before Singapore’s bunker tanker and harbour craft population start considering the use of electrification technologies for propulsion.

Related: Singapore: MPA maritime decarbonisation blueprint sets target for bunkering sector
Related: NTU and SMI report helps shipping industry adopt alternative and greener marine fuels
Related: SMTC 2021: Electrification of Singapore bunker tankers and harbour craft in government pipeline, says SMI

 

Photo credit and source: Maritime Singapore Decarbonisation Blueprint: Working Towards 2050
Published: 11 March, 2022

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Methanol

Chimbusco completes bunkering op of China’s first 16,000K TEU methanol DF boxship

“COSCO SHIPPING YANGPU” was supplied approximately 900 metric tonnes of methanol marine fuel by Chimbusco in Shanghai on 11 May.

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Chimbusco completes bunkering of China’s first 16,000K TEU methanol DF boxship

China Marine Bunker (PetroChina) Co Ltd (Chimbusco) completed a bunkering operation of the first domestically manufactured methanol dual-fuel container ship in Shanghai on 11 May, according to COSCO Shipping on Thursday (15 May). 

COSCO SHIPPING YANGPU was supplied approximately 900 metric tonnes (mt) of methanol marine fuel by Chimbusco at Pier 1 of COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry. 

The operation started on 7 May but was postponed due to unfavourable weather from the Jianghuai Cyclone.

Chimbusco completes bunkering of China’s first 16,000K TEU methanol DF boxship

COSCO Shipping said the operation marked an important achievement in green and low-carbon transformation in shipping, from ship construction and ecological layout of the entire green fuel industry chain of the company. 

Manifold Times previously reported the naming ceremony of China’s first 16,000 TEU methanol dual-fuel container ship, COSCO SHIPPING YANGPU in Yangzhou.

The methanol dual-fuel container ship named was the first in a series of vessels from COSCO Shipping Holdings, constructed by COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry Yangzhou. 

Related: COSCO Shipping names China’s first 16,000 TEU methanol dual-fuel container ship

 

Photo credit: Cosco Shipping
Published: 23 May, 2025

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LNG Bunkering

Shell wraps up its first LNG bunkering operation for TUI Cruises in Barcelona

Milestone was achieved by Shell’s LNG bunker barge “Haugesund Knutsen” supplying the “Mein Schiff Relax” cruise ship at Port of Barcelona, says Dexter Belmar of Shell.

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Shell wraps up its first LNG bunkering operation for TUI Cruises in Barcelona

Energy giant Shell recently conducted its first LNG bunkering operation for TUI Cruises in Barcelona, according to Dexter Belmar, General Manager and Head of Global Downstream LNG on Thursday (22 May).

He said the milestone was achieved by Shell’s LNG bunker barge Haugesund Knutsen supplying the Mein Schiff Relax cruise ship.

“Barcelona, one of Europe and the Mediterranean’s leading cruise ports, is also a key LNG bunkering location for Shell as we help more cruise ships transition to lower-emission fuels,” he said in a social media post. 

“A huge thank you to Royal Caribbean Group for their trust, and to Knutsen and Port of Barcelona for their collaboration in making this bunkering safe and efficient.”

Shell wraps up its first LNG bunkering operation for TUI Cruises in Barcelona

Belmar said LNG is leading the way as the preferred alternative bunker fuel in the cruise industry. 

“At Shell, we’re proud to support LNG fuelling needs at 26 locations worldwide, including major cruise ports like Bahamas, Barcelona, Canaveral, Everglades, Jamaica, Miami, Singapore, Southampton, and Tenerife,” he added. 

 

Photo credit: Shell
Published: 23 May, 2025

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LNG Bunkering

IGU report: Global LNG bunkering fleet grows to 56 operational vessels by 2024

LNG bunkering fleet is concentrated in Europe with the highest capacity of operational bunkering vessels, followed by Asia/Asia Pacific and North America, according to 2025 World LNG report by IGU.

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IGU report: Global LNG bunkering fleet grows to 56 operational vessels by 2024

The global operational LNG bunkering and bunkering-capable small-scale vessel fleet reached 56 units at the end of December 2024 with further support from expanding infrastructure and regulatory drivers such as the IMO’s ban of heavy fuel oil in Arctic shipping and the EU’s FuelEU Maritime regulation.

This was nine more vessels than in 2023, with a total added capacity of 82,900 cubic metres (m3). 

This was one of the major highlights in the 2025 World LNG report by the International Gas Union (ICU), which was launched at the 29th World Gas Conference (WGC2025) in Beijing on Thursday (22 May). 

IGU report: Global LNG bunkering fleet grows to 56 operational vessels by 2024

The LNG bunkering fleet is concentrated in Europe with the highest capacity of operational bunkering vessels. This is followed by Asia/Asia Pacific and then North America, both of which have seen rapid expansions in the past five years. 

As of the end of 2024, Europe has the highest bunkering capacity, with a total of 190,757 cm across 25 vessels currently in operation within the region. 

Asia/Asia Pacific has the second-highest bunkering capacity, with a total of 179,700 m3 across 17 vessels in operation. From that, China currently has five operational LNG bunkering vessels while South Korea currently provides STS bunkering services with four bunkering vessels. Singapore currently has three bunkering vessels in operation. 

North America continued its progress toward becoming a significant region in the LNG bunkering market in 2024, reaching a total capacity of 86,400 m3 across 10 operational vessels by year-end.

The report noted: “2024 was a significant year for LNG bunkering. Bunker users were quick to capture the reductions in both fuel costs and carbon emissions from using LNG, taking advantage of lower LNG prices relative to other marine fuels in 2024. Lower prices and an emerging LNG-fuelled fleet were catalysts in the large uptake in LNG bunker volumes.”

The Port of Singapore, which is the largest bunkering port in the world, recorded 463,900 tonnes of LNG bunkered in 2024, almost four times the 110,900 tonnes in 2023. The Port of Rotterdam, the second-largest bunkering port in the world, also recorded a 52% increase in bunkered LNG, from 620,000 cm in 2023 to 941,366 cm in 2024.”

IGU also said the newcomer in STS LNG bunkering is the Middle East with the LNG bunkering vessel Green Zeebrugge.

“The ship moved at the end of 2024 to Dubai and has performed the first ever LNG bunkering in the Middle East. This area is identified as a potential new LNG bunkering hub with Oman, the UAE, and Qatar as the main bunkering locations.”

Note: The ‘2025 World LNG Report’ can be downloaded here

 

Photo credit: International Gas Union
Published: 23 May, 2025

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