Connect with us

LNG Bunkering

SIBCON 2024: Digitalised LNG bunkering process can help build trust among stakeholders

Martin Wold of Ofiniti, a DNV company, says digitalisation will play an important role in bridging data communications gap between bunker players and stakeholders to build trust which will be key with emergence of new bunker fuels.

Admin

Published

on

Martin Wold Ofiniti

Digitalisation will play a huge role in bridging data communications gap between bunker players and stakeholders to build trust, which will matter more than ever with the emergence of new bunker fuels. 

This was a key point shared by Martin Wold, Chief Executive Officer of Ofiniti, a DNV company, during his Accelerating the Digitalised LNG Bunkering Process presentation on Tuesday (8 October) at the 23rd Singapore International Bunkering Conference (SIBCON).

Ofiniti is the new company name in which digital bunkering delivery platform FuelBoss, established by classification society DNV, operates under now. 

Wold said the energy transition has begun, and with these new alternative fuels, LNG in particular, comes new complexities to be handled.

He highlighted the complexities of LNG specifically which is traded and sold on an energy basis primarily and not mass which is the usual practice in the bunkering industry.

With this, there is a need for consistency which digitalisation can help by providing accurate and error-free ways of calculating the amount of energy delivered.

“With digitalisation and digital platforms that are now emerging, you also get a reliable and shared audit trail when there’s a claim and you need to backtrack and see what happened,” he said. 

“You can do this in a much more efficient way now, by ensuring that you have everything available as one shared data reference point. Also, you can trust that you have instant access to verifiable data for all involved stakeholders in the delivery, from independent solution providers.”

Wold also shared the lessons learned from three years of digitising LNG bunkering operations using FuelBoss, including consistent time savings and increased utilisation of bunker vessels.

SIBCON 2024: Digitalised LNG bunkering process can help build trust among stakeholders

“We see consistent time savings of 30 to 60 minutes for every bunker delivery, which is, of course, very valuable in operational efficiency and also increasing utilisation of bunker vessels,” he said.

He also highlighted the preference for digital work processes among crews of both bunker vessels and receiving vessels because it is more convenient, intuitive and easy to use. 

“And finally, we are able to quantify savings of up to USD 1 per metric ton of delivered fuel, and most of that comes from optimization and increased availability of the bunker vessels,” Wold added.

“Until now, time savings and operational efficiency have not been a top priority, as LNG bunker vessels have had low utilization due to insufficient demand. However, this is the big change happening now in the LNG bunkering industry, as we’re moving from a clear state of underutilization to full utilization of LNG bunker vessels on a global scale.”

Therefore, he highlighted that the adoption of digital tools like FuelBoss have been taking off rapidly as now “time is money”, also in the LNG bunkering space. 

Wold ended his presentation by informing that Ofiniti was in the final stages of the whitelisting process with MPA Singapore, for their new FuelBoss platform that provides eBDN and digital delivery also for conventional fuels. 

Related: FuelBoss to continue under new DNV company Ofiniti
Related: DNV: LNG headlining new alternative fuelled orders in Q3
Related: DNV FuelBoss coverage expands to include conventional bunker fuels, whitelisting by MPA in process
Related: Singapore: DNV FuelBoss and Equatorial Marine Fuel enter digital bunkering MoU
Related: StormGeo and FuelBoss in new partnership to support digitalisation of bunker workflow

 

Photo credit: Manifold Times
Published: 16 October, 2024

Continue Reading

LNG Bunkering

SEA-LNG: Invest more in LNG bunker vessels, supply and liquefaction infrastructure

LNG bunker market, while growing substantially, is lagging and concerns persist regarding the ability to supply the rapidly growing fleet of LNG-fuelled vessels.

Admin

Published

on

By

SEA-LNG: Invest more in LNG bunker vessels, supply and liquefaction infrastructure

Industry coalition SEA-LNG on Thursday (5 December) said that while the approximately 2,200 LNG-fuelled vessels and LNG carriers represent only ‘two minutes into the hour’ of the global fleet of approximately 60,000 deep sea vessels, it remains an adolescent fuel that is maturing significantly faster than other alternative bunker fuels. 

However, it said the LNG pathway still needs more investment, especially in landside facilities for liquefaction near ports, bio and synthetic methane production and bunkering capacity worldwide.

This year has witnessed unprecedented investment in the maturing and scaling of LNG from ship owners.  LNG is starting to dominate as the preferred future fuel pathway. 

However, the bunker market, while growing substantially, is lagging and concerns persist regarding the ability to supply the rapidly growing fleet of LNG-fuelled vessels.

Peter Keller, Chairman, SEA-LNG, said: “With high profile owners now choosing the LNG pathway, we anticipate this trend will continue and accelerate through 2025 and beyond.”

“As the various alternative fuel pathways mature, there is a growing realisation that, despite previous aspirations, some alternative fuel pathways – like the LNG pathway – are more practical and realistic than others.”

“While investment in newbuild LNG-fuelled ships is robust, we need to see the same for bunker vessels, supply and liquefaction infrastructure. As the LNG pathway continues to mature and the use of liquefied biomethane and eventually e-methane increases, the delivery of the fuel to vessels must be assured and the investment gap closed.”

Keller added: “There are approximately 60,000 deep sea ships on the water and, today, we’re looking at around 600 LNG capable ships afloat with a further 600 on order. There are another 1,000 LNG cargo carriers and bunker vessels of varying sizes.”

“While that’s a small percentage of the global fleet, as the clock ticks towards shipping’s emissions reduction targets, the LNG pathway is maturing far faster than other alternative fuels.”

According to DNV there are currently 54 methanol vessels and 2 ammonia vessels on the water.

There are aspects of LNG usage that are fully mature – safety for one. LNG is easy to transport, poses minimal, if any, risk to marine environments, has a low flammability range and is non-toxic. Effective regulations, standards and guidelines for safe operations are widespread, and LNG has been shipped around the world for almost 60 years without any major incidents at sea or in ports.

Keller continued: “When compared to traditional fuels, LNG is more of a teenager with all the growing pains, challenges and victories associated with adolescence.”

“But it is maturing all the time as the market continues to grow, new build orders continue to rise, and the LNG pathway with biomethane and eventually e-methane produced from renewable hydrogen, gains acceptance globally.”

“Shipping stakeholders are investing in LNG because it provides a low risk, incremental pathway for decarbonisation, starting now.  The other alternative fuels are basically toddlers by comparison.  And when it comes to safety, some are mere newborns!”

Another critical need in the maturing process during a period of increased regulation of carbon emissions is the adoption of standardised chain of custody models on a worldwide basis. 

Chain of custody models are becoming increasingly important to maritime decarbonisation as they provide mechanisms to verify that the fuels used are low carbon. 

Such verification creates investor confidence in new fuel supply chains and accelerates the transition to low-carbon fuels, enabling early adoption in conditions of limited supply. 

“They will create a market for green fuels by connecting buyers to fuel producers away from bunker ports enabling faster scaling and providing flexibility to shipping companies at lower cost,” SEA-LNG added.

 

Photo credit: SEA-LNG
Published: 6 December, 2024

Continue Reading

LNG Bunkering

CMA CGM achieves 100th SIMOPS LNG bunkering operation in Shanghai

Milestone bunkering of “CMA CGM Patagonia” by bunkering vessel “Hai Gang Wei Lai” also sets a new record for the largest single refuelling volume in China – 11,500 m³ of LNG bunker fuel.

Admin

Published

on

By

CMA CGM achieves 100th SIMOPS LNG bunkering operation in Shanghai

French shipping giant CMA CGM on Wednesday (4 December) said it successfully completed its 100th simultaneous LNG bunkering and cargo operation (SIMOPS) at the Shanghai Yangshan terminal.

The achievement comes two years after the company signed a LNG bunkering agreement with Shanghai International Port Group in 2022.

“This milestone bunkering of the CMA CGM Patagonia not only marks a significant achievement but also sets a new record for the largest single refueling volume in China: an impressive 11,500 m³ of LNG,” the firm said. 

“This was accomplished while seamlessly conducting simultaneous operations, including cargo handling and maintenance.”

According to Shanghai International Port Group (SIPG), bunkering vessel Hai Gang Wei Lai supplied the LNG bunker fuel to CMA CGM Patagonia.

Manifold Times previously reported CMA CGM and SIPG completing their first LNG bunkering operation at Yangshan Port in March 2022, marking the first ship-to-ship LNG SIMOPS in China.

The development was built upon an earlier 10-year LNG bunkering and joint project agreement formed between both entities in January 2022 where SIPG will provide SIMOPS LNG bunkering service for CMA CGM’s vessels sailing from China to the United-States at Yangshan Port.

Related: CMA CGM and SIPG complete China’s first LNG SIMOPS bunkering op
Related: Shanghai International Port Group and CMA CGM in 10-year LNG bunkering agreement
Related: China: “Hai Gang Wei Lai” completes LNG bunkering op of world’s largest car carrier+
Related: Shanghai: First bunkering operation of new PIL LNG dual-fuel boxship completed

 

Photo credit: Shanghai International Port Group
Published: 5 December, 2024

Continue Reading

LNG Bunkering

Seaspan Energy completes its first-ever LNG STS bunkering operation

Operation marked the beginning of Seaspan’s service offering on the West Coast of North America with two LNG bunkering vessels to soon serve both Long Beach and Vancouver markets.

Admin

Published

on

By

Seaspan Energy completes its first-ever LNG STS bunkering operation

Seaspan Energy (Seaspan) on Wednesday (4 December) said it has successfully completed its first LNG ship-to-ship transfer to a containership in the Port of Long Beach. 

The operation marked the beginning of Seaspan’s service offering on the West Coast of North America with two LNG bunkering vessels to soon serve both the Long Beach and Vancouver markets.

“Our first ship-to-ship LNG bunkering has been five years in the making and our team is so proud of this milestone especially as this represents the first ship-to-ship bunkering on the West Coast of North America,” said Harly Penner, Senior Vice President, Seaspan Energy.  

“We are committed to offering large vessel operators a low-carbon fuel solution and this is the first of many successful operations to support a sustainable shift in the global marine sector.”

The first ship-to-ship transfer was performed by the Seaspan Garibaldi, the first of three Seaspan Energy 112m-long LNG bunkering vessels to be operational. The Seaspan Garibaldi will soon be joined by the Seaspan Lions and both bunkering vessels will support the market on the West Coast of North America.  

Seaspan Energy is the first Canadian company to provide ship-to-ship bunkering solutions.

 

Photo credit: Seaspan Energy
Published: 5 December, 2024

Continue Reading
Advertisement
  • Consort advertisement v2
  • v4Helmsman Gif Banner 01
  • Aderco advert 400x330 1
  • RE 05 Lighthouse GIF
  • SBF2
  • EMF banner 400x330 slogan

OUR INDUSTRY PARTNERS

  • HL 2022 adv v1
  • SEAOIL 3+5 GIF
  • 102Meth Logo GIF copy
  • Triton Bunkering advertisement v2
  • Singfar advertisement final


  • Auramarine 01
  • Uni Fuels oct 2024 ad
  • CNC Logo Rev Manifold Times
  • Synergy Asia Bunkering logo MT
  • PSP Marine logo
  • Kenoil
  • Innospec logo v6
  • Mokara Final
  • intrasea
  • E Marine logo
  • 400x330 v2 copy
  • VPS 2021 advertisement
  • Headway Manifold
  • Advert Shipping Manifold resized1

Trending