Business
Obituary: Singapore bunker surveying industry loses veteran Daniel Phua
Daniel Phua passed away while doing what he loved most – playing golf – on Thursday (7 October), learned bunkering publication Manifold Times.

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2 years agoon
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Singapore bunker surveyor veteran Daniel Phua passed away while doing what he loved most – playing golf – on Thursday (7 October), learned bunkering publication Manifold Times.
Professionally, Phua is the Director of surveying firm Potential Inspection Services and a Director of the Academy of International Maritime Studies; he is also the Founder and President of the 2017-established Association of Bunker Industry Singapore, also known as ABIS.
Personally, he is also known as a loving family man; Phua leaves behind son Phua Nahum with daughter in law - Chong Hui Ting; eldest daughter Phua Naomi with son-in-law Seah Chee Fong and grandson Micaiah Seah; and youngest daughter Phua Natassia.
Words from the Phua Family
“Thank you for being a selfless, caring and ever loving father. Bringing not just rice but also joy and laughter home. Always teaching and guiding us to soar to our highest but also to stay humble to the ground. We will always remember the lessons you’ve taught us and also we will miss you dearly,” says the Phua Family in a joint statement.
Madeline Lee, Sales Manager, Island Oil Trading (Singapore)
You always gave us your sincere advice whenever we asked. You doted on your family and was happiest with your brood surrounding you with your cooking. With a broken heart, I want to thank you for sharing your knowledge and will always miss your rich laughter. I just wish we have more times to share together but with the golden memories you left behind, it will be cherished. You will always be remembered in my heart. Have a great journey up there. RIP.
Dennis Ho, Managing Director, ElbOil Singapore
I got to know Daniel back in the days when IBIA Asia was still in its formative years. I remember fondly the time we spent together during SIBCON week organising an IBIA initiated golf event to raise money for a scholarship fund that till today is benefitting the younger generation aspiring for a career in the maritime industry.
We went to organise a few more golfing events over the years. Be it canvassing for sponsors or taking up a few golf flights for these events, Daniel’s support and commitment is always there. Over the years, we developed a relationship that is hard to describe - but you know he’s there when you need him. He will be greatly missed by the Singapore bunkering industry. May he rest in peace.
Simon Neo, Operations Director, Sevenseas Oil Trading
I have known Daniel, since 2004 when he first joined IBIA as a member and also as an EXCO member. His passion for golf is so strong, that he together with some members of the EXCO, started to organise an annual golf event for the industry and have been very successful at it. He also made great contribution to the bunker surveying industry by establishing the Association of Bunkering Industry Singapore, commonly known as ABIS, to raise voices of the bunker surveying industry. It is sad to hear of his passing and the bunker surveying industry will greatly miss him.
Douglas Raitt, Regional Advisory Services Manager, Lloyd’s Register
I have known Daniel pretty much since I arrived in Singapore over 20 years ago and came to know him as a very hard working entrepreneurial professional in the bunker industry. He always had an incredible sense of humour and dealing with him was a delight. We have lost a great man who contributed a lot to the industry.
Association of Bunker Industry (Singapore)
We are all deeply sadden and shocked upon the demise of our ABIS President. We have lost a comrade, a friend and a leader whom had taken us from a bunch of loose sand and mounded us into an effective association that made contribution to the bunkering industry. It would be difficult for us to replace him.
Gabian Chew, Founder, Manifold Times
Daniel has been one of the rare individuals unafraid to speak his mind when it comes to the more sensitive issues pertaining the Singapore bunkering industry; these qualities were probably what led him to setup ABIS in order to give bunker surveying firms a voice at Singapore port.
Gone from our sight, but never from our hearts; he will be remembered.
Details of the wake for wreaths and visitors are as follows:
Date: 8 October to 12 October
Address: Blk 328 Woodlands Street 32
Postal Code: 730328
Photo credit: Phua Family
Published: 8 October, 2021
Methanol
Kambara Kisen orders methanol dual-fuel bulker from Tsuneishi Shipbuilding
Firm ordered a 65,700-dwt methanol dual-fuel dry bulk carrier with Tsuneishi Shipbuilding; MOL signed a basic agreement on time charter for the newbuilding that is slated to be delivered in 2027.

Published
20 hours agoon
September 22, 2023By
Admin
Japanese shipowner Kambara Kisen has ordered a 65,700-dwt methanol dual-fuel dry bulk carrier newbuilding from Tsuneishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd, according to Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) on Wednesday (20 September).
MOL said it signed a basic agreement on time charter for the newbuilding that is slated to be delivered in 2027.
The vessel will be designed to use e-methanol produced primarily by synthesising recovered CO2 and hydrogen produced using renewable energy sources, and bio-methanol derived from biogas.
The vessel's design maximises cargo space while ensuring sufficient methanol tank capacity set to allow the required navigational distance assuming various routes, at the same time maximising cargo space.
MOL added the vessel is expected to serve mainly in the transport of biomass fuels from the east coast of North America to Europe and the U.K. and within the Pacific region, as well as grain from the east coast of South America and the U.S. Gulf Coast to Europe and the Far East.
Details on the time-charter contract:
Shipowner: Kambara Kisen wholly owned subsidiary
Charterer: MOL Drybulk Ltd.
Charter period 2027: -
Details on the newbuilding methanol dual fuel bulk carrier:
LOA: About 200 m
Breadth: About 32.25 m
Draft: About 13.80 m
Deadweight: About 65,700 MT
Hold capacity: About 81,500m3
Shipyard: Tsuneishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd.
Photo credit: Mitsui O.S.K. Lines
Published: 22 September, 2023
Methanol
Argus Media: Alternatives may drive methanol market growth
Driven by low-carbon policies and regulations, the transportation sector — especially the marine fuels industry — could be a source of heightened demand, according to Argus.

Published
21 hours agoon
September 22, 2023By
Admin
The growth of sustainable alternatives to traditional methanol production sources likely will shape the market over the next several years, industry leaders said this week at the Argus Methanol Forum.
20 September
Driven by low-carbon policies and regulations, the transportation sector — especially the marine fuels industry — could be a source of heightened demand.
"The aim is to be net zero by 2050 but [those solutions are] expensive today and one of the main challenges to build e-methanol or bio-methanol plants is a huge queue for these pieces of equipment that aren't available," Anita Gajadhar, executive director for Swiss-based methanol producer Proman, said.
Bio-based and e-methanol plants of commercial scale, like Proman's natural gas-fed 1.9 million metric tonne/yr M5000 plant in Trinidad and Tobago, are not ready today.
"But that's not to say 10 years from now they won't be there," Gajadhar added.
Smaller projects are popping up. Dutch fuels and gas supplier OCI Global announced plans last week to double the green methanol capacity at its Beaumont, Texas, facility to 400,000 t/yr and will add e-methanol to production for the first time. Production will use feedstocks such as renewable natural gas (RNG), green hydrogen and biogas.
The globally oversupplied methanol market will not get any major supply additions starting in 2024 until 2027. But that oversupply will not last long, Gajadhar said.
Global demand has slowed this year, driven by stagnate economic growth and higher interest rates, according to industry observers.
As much as half of methanol demand is tied to GDP growth, with total methanol demand estimates at 88.9mn t globally in 2023. This is essentially flat from 2022, but up from 88.3m t in 2021 and 87.7mn t in 2020, Dave McCaskill, vice-president of methanol and derivatives for Argus Media's consulting service, said.
Demand is not expected to rebound to 2019 levels of 89.6mn t until 2024 or 2025, he added.
The period of oversupply combined with lackluster demand places methanol in a transition period, Gajadhar said, which opens the door for sustainable feedstock alternatives to shape market growth.
Danish container shipping giant Maersk and French marine logistics company CMA-CGM announced earlier this week a partnership to drive decarbonization in shipping. The partnership seeks to develop fuel and operations standards for bunkering with alternative fuels. The companies will develop net-zero solutions, including new technology and alternative fuels.
Maersk has previously ordered dual-fuel methanol-powered vessels and CMA-CGM LNG-propelled vessels.
The demand for alternative feedstock-derived fuels is there, but the ability to scale-up such production lags. Certified lower-carbon methanol produced using carbon capture and sequestration — also known as blue methanol— can ramp up much more quickly, according to Gajadhar.
By Steven McGinn
Photo credit and source: Argus Media
Published: 22 September, 2023
Biofuel
Royal Caribbean completes over 12 weeks of bio bunker fuel testing in Europe
Firm expanded its biofuel testing this summer in Europe to two additional ships — Royal Caribbean International’s “Symphony of the Seas” and Celebrity Cruises’ “Celebrity Apex”.

Published
21 hours agoon
September 22, 2023By
Admin
Royal Caribbean Group on Tuesday (19 September) said it successfully completed over 12 consecutive weeks of biofuel testing in Europe.
Royal Caribbean International’s Symphony of the Seas became the first ship in the maritime industry to successfully test and use a biofuel blend in Barcelona to meet part of her fuel needs.
The company confirmed onboard technical systems met operational standards, without quality or safety concerns, demonstrating the biofuel blend is a reliable “drop in” supply of lower emission energy that ships can use to set sail across Europe and beyond.
The tests across Europe also provided valuable data to understand the availability and scalability of biofuel in the region, the firm added.
Jason Liberty, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group, said: “This is a pivotal moment for Royal Caribbean Group’s alternative fuel journey.”
“Following our successful trial of biofuels this summer, we are one step closer to bringing our vision for net-zero cruising to life. As we strive to protect and promote the vibrant oceans we sail, we are determined to accelerate innovation and improve how we deliver vacation experiences responsibly.”
President of the Port of Barcelona, Lluís Salvadó, said: “Royal Caribbean’s success is a clear example of how commitment to innovation makes possible the development of solutions to decarbonise the maritime sector.”
“In this case, it involves the cruise sector and focuses on biofuels, an area in which the Port of Barcelona is already working to become an energy hub, producing and supplying zero carbon fuels, such as green hydrogen and ammonia, and of other almost zero-carbon alternative fuels, such as methanol, biofuels or synthetic fuels. Innovation and collaboration between ports and shipping companies is key to accelerate the decarbonisation of maritime transport.”
The company began testing biofuels last year and expanded the trail this summer in Europe to two additional ships — Royal Caribbean International’s Symphony of the Seas and Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Apex.
The sustainable biofuel blends tested were produced by purifying renewable raw materials like waste oils and fats and combining them with fuel oil to create an alternative fuel that is cleaner and more sustainable. The biofuel blends tested are accredited by International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC), a globally recognized organization that ensures sustainability of biofuels and verifies reductions of related emissions.
With Symphony of the Seas departing from the Port of Barcelona and Celebrity Apex departing from the Port of Rotterdam, both ships accomplished multiple sailings using biofuel and contributed critical data on the fuel’s capabilities.
“These results will help accelerate Royal Caribbean Group’s plans to continue testing the use of different types of biofuels on upcoming European sailings this fall. The company is exploring strategic partnerships with suppliers and ports to ensure the availability of biofuel and infrastructures to advance the maritime energy transition,” the firm said.
Photo credit: Royal Caribbean Group
Published: 22 September, 2023

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