Business

SIBCON 2022: SGTraDex enters MOU with six bunkering sector tech providers

Collaboration with ADP Clear, Angsana Technology, Brightree, BTS, Bunkerchain and PSA Marine signed on the sidelines of SIBCON 2022.

Published

2 years ago

October 6, 2022

Admin

A memorandum of understanding (MOU) was inked between Singapore Trade Data Exchange Services (SGTraDex Services) and maritime tech providers ADP Clear, Angsana Technology, Brightree, BTS, Bunkerchain and PSA Marine on the sidelines of Singapore International Bunkering Conference and Exhibition (SIBCON) 2022 during Wednesday (5 October).

Graced by Mr Chee Hong Tat, Senior Minister of State for Finance and Transport, the MOU solidified the partnership between the signatories and SGTraDex Services to jointly improve efficiency and resilience for bunkering sector by reducing duplicative effort and providing access to documents from trusted sources.

About SGTradex’s Bunkering Optimisation Use-Case

Launched on 1 June 2022, the Singapore Trade Data Exchange (SGTraDex) is a digital utility that facilitates the sharing of data between supply chain ecosystem partners, streamlining information flows through a common data highway where data can be shared in a trusted, secure and inclusive manner.

SGTraDex was mobilised to solve supply chain industry pain points based on a “use case” led approach and “value focused’ principles”. It means identifying problems that are relevant to participants and the industry as a whole, sharing business processes and experiential challenges between the participants, offering best practices and, as a result, aligning on the flow of information and data exchange, fundamental to solving the pain points identified.

SGTraDex represents the foundation that provides the infrastructure that allows all counterparties to operate more securely and efficiently. Partnerships with technology providers are key to achieving that efficiency and trust.

The bunkering optimisation use-case (Use Case C) digitalises the exchange of commercial (documents) and operational (event) data between ecosystem partners like storage facility operators, cargo owners, bunker suppliers, barge operators, bunker buyers and financial institutions.

The exchange also unlocks value for the ecosystem by collaborating with industry platform providers like the signatories of the MOU.

“With this ecosystem of partners, participants can connect with SGTraDex to access multiple partners and platforms, thereby expanding their own network of trade data partners” said Antoine Cadoux, CEO of SGTraDex Services.

Building a future-ready bunkering sector

By digitising trade documents for the bunkering and adjacent industries, SGTraDex and the maritime tech providers will:

Improve operational efficiency through digitisation of trade documents
Reduce the risk of trade finance fraud and increase confidence in financing by allowing financing institutions to validate the authenticity of trade documents via data obtained directly from trusted parties and sources.

“Our core belief is that underpinning a well-functioning supply chain and trade ecosystem, is the need to efficiently communicate commercial and operational data between stakeholders. To do so, we need to move away from paper-based processes since they are highly inefficient and more susceptible to the risk of fraud,” said Antoine Cadoux.

“The bunkering sector is no exception. As a neutral digital highway, working closely with maritime tech providers, together, we can build a future ready bunkering sector that is more effective and more resilient.”

“As a major hub port and bunkering centre, we need to leverage on digitalisation to increase efficiency and transparency,” said Kenneth Lim, Assistant Chief Executive (Industry & Transformation), Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore.

“MPA welcomes the partnership between SGTraDex and the marinetech technology community to develop innovative solutions to promote greater data sharing and exploitation of data for insights. We look forward to the industry adoption of digital solutions to deliver better services and enhance their business competitiveness.”

Photo credit: Singapore Trade Data Exchange Services
Published: 6 October, 2022

Legal

Shell MGO bunker heist: Bunker clerk gets jail time for helping Sentek acquire misappropriated fuel

Wong Wai Meng was sentenced to seven years, four months and two weeks’ jail on 10 January for helping the company acquire more than 28,000 mt of the misappropriated fuel worth USD 13.58 million.

Published

13 hours ago

January 13, 2025

Admin

A bunker clerk, who was previously employed by Sentek Marine & Trading (Sentek), was sentenced to seven years, four months and two weeks’ jail for helping the company acquire more than 28,000 metric tonnes (mt) of the misappropriated fuel worth USD 13.58 million (SGD 18.26 million), The Straits Times reported on Friday (10 January).

Wong Wai Meng, was working for Singapore-based firm Sentek at the time of the offences.

Wong, who received more than USD 286,000 from the company for his assistance, pleaded guilty in November 2024 to 12 counts of intentionally helping the company acquire the misappropriated fuel.

He committed the offences over 46 occasions between August 2014 and December 2017.

Wong is among the three bunker clerks previously employed by Sentek, who were charged for offences under the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act (CDSA) and the Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA).

Another bunker clerk among the three charged, Wong Kuin Wah, 61, was sentenced to seven years and six months’ jail on 18 November for his role in misappropriating more than 27,000 tonnes of gas oil worth around USD 12.8 million (SGD 17.2 million).

The third individual who was charged, Boo Pu Wen, reportedly passed away in July 2023 and had his charges abated following his death, meaning Boo’s court proceedings over his 19 charges at the time came to an end.

Former Shell employees, who were key members of a group who dishonestly misappropriated fuel from Shell Pulau Bukom, were sentenced to jail in court earlier.

Earlier coverage of developments by Manifold Times regarding the Shell MGO bunker heist can be found below:

Photo credit: Katrin Bolovtsova
Published: 13 January, 2025

Winding up

Singapore: Liquidator issue notice of intended dividend for Parakou Shipping

Creditors will need to produce proofs of debt to liquidator of Parakou Shipping by 24 January, according to Government Gazette notice.

Published

13 hours ago

January 13, 2025

Admin

A notice to declare intended dividend of Parakou Shipping Pte Ltd to its creditors has been posted on the Government Gazette on Friday (10 January).

The following are the details of the notice of intended dividend for the first dividend:

Name of Company : Parakou Shipping Pte Ltd (In Creditors’ Voluntary Liquidation)

Address of Registered Office : c/o KordaMentha, 16 Collyer Quay, #30-01, Singapore 049318

Last Day of Receiving Proofs : 24 January 2025 (if not already lodged)

Name of Liquidator : Cameron Duncan

Address : c/o KordaMentha, 16 Collyer Quay, #30-01, Singapore 049318

Photo credit: steve pb from Pixabay
Published: 13 January, 2025

Alternative Fuels

DNV: LNG dominates alternative-fuel vessel orderbook for 2024

According to DNV, LNG was the industry’s alternative fuel of choice by year-end; 264 LNG vessel orders were placed in 2024, over double that of 2023 which was 130 orders.

Published

14 hours ago

January 13, 2025

Admin

The maritime industry’s exceptional newbuilding year 2024 drove a significant rise in orders for alternative-fuelled vessels, according to the latest data from DNV’s Alternative Fuels Insights (AFI) platform.

A total of 515 such ships were ordered, representing a 38% year-on-year increase compared to 2023, underscoring the industry's growing commitment to decarbonization.

The growth in alternative-fuelled vessel orders has been heavily driven by the container and car carrier newbuild boom over the last three years. In 2024, 69% of all container ship orders were for ships capable of being powered by alternative fuels, driven by cargo owners responding to consumer demands for more sustainable practices and liner companies preparing to replace older tonnage. The preferred fuel choice for this segment was LNG (67%). In total the container and car carrier segments made up 62% of all alternative fuel orders in 2024.

Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen, CEO Maritime at DNV, said: “As we work towards decarbonizing the industry, we are encouraged by the growth in alternative fuel vessels over the past few years. While recent figures are promising, we must keep pushing forward.”

“The technological transition is underway, but supply of alternative fuel is still low. As an industry we need to work with fuel suppliers and other stakeholders to ensure that shipping has access to its share of alternative fuels in the future. It is also important that the safety of seafarers is ensured as we make this transition. This will require investment in upskilling and training.”

LNG was not the only fuel on shipowners’ minds as 2024 saw them betting on multiple alternative fuels. 166 methanol orders were added (32% of the AFI orderbook), reflecting shipping’s growing interest in a diverse fuel pool as it strives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Most of these methanol orders (85) were in the container segment.

While methanol drove newbuilding orders for alternative-fuelled vessels at the beginning of the year, LNG was the industry’s alternative fuel of choice by year-end. The number of LNG vessel orders placed in 2024 was 264, over double that of 2023 (130).

Ammonia saw promising momentum in the earliest months of the year and continued to grow throughout 2024. A total of 27 orders were placed for ammonia-fueled vessels. The first non-gas carrier ammonia-fuelled vessels orders were placed in 2024 (10), mainly in the bulk carrier segment (5). While still in its early stages, this provides further evidence of ammonia's emergence in the alternative fuel market.

Deliveries and bunkering

The number of LNG-fuelled ships in operation doubled between 2021 and 2024, with a record number of deliveries (169) in 2024. By the end of 2024, 641 LNG-powered ships were in operation. According to the AFI orderbook, this number is expected to double by the end of the decade.

While the bunkering infrastructure for some alternative fuels remains underdeveloped, LNG bunkering is maturing. The number of LNG bunker vessels in operation grew from 52 to 64 over the last year, with continued growth expected in 2025. The significant gap between LNG bunkering supply and demand is expected to widen over the next five years based on the AFI orderbook.

Addressing this challenge by developing the appropriate infrastructure for alternative fuels – both for vessels and bunkering - can create demand signals to stimulate long-term fuel production. With the EU regulatory package, Fit for 55, setting requirements on a large network of ports to have LNG bunkering infrastructure, it is expected that the availability of LNG in ports will increase.

Jason Stefanatos, Global Decarbonization Director at DNV, said: “Market conditions, infrastructure development, fuel production updates, and cargo owners' needs are all shaping the demand for different fuels, both in the short and long term.”

“The shifting trends in LNG and methanol orders this year might be due to the slow development of green methanol production. In the long run, green methanol has potential to be part of the energy mix along with ammonia.”

“In parallel, LNG offers a vital bridging fuel option benefiting from existing infrastructure and short-term emissions reductions while being capable of acting as a long-term solution as well, assuming RNG (Renewable Natural Gas) will be available and provided at a competitive price.”

Photo credit: DNV
Published: 13 January, 2024