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SIBCON 2024: ZeroNorth discusses challenges and opportunities of Singapore digital bunkering landscape

Kenneth Juhls, Managing Director of ZeroNorth Bunker highlights Singapore alone presents a significant opportunity to digital bunkering with the significant amount of bunker fuel traded every year.

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Singapore alone presents a significant opportunity to digital bunkering with the significant amount of bunker fuel traded every year, said Kenneth Juhls, Managing Director of digital bunkering platform solutions provider ZeroNorth Bunker on Tuesday (8 October).

Juhls said out of about 250 million tonnes of bunker fuels traded every year between suppliers and buyers around the world, 50 million tonnes of that is taking place in Singapore.

With that, there is a huge amount of paperwork and forms that are being filled out for the delivery between a supplier and a receiving vessel, and the amount of fuel has also been on another vessel or a tank.

“The entire value chain is filled up with paper documentation. There’s huge opportunity here by digitising that,” he said during his Digital Deliveries and E-Bunker Delivery Note (eBDN) in Practice presentation at the Pre-Conference Symposium of the 23rd Singapore International Bunkering Conference (SIBCON 2024).

During his presentation, he described the key features of an electronic bunker delivery note (e-BDN) solution, including digital collaboration, error reduction, and increased safety.

He pointed out a “cool feature” in the e-BDN solution that may be overlooked is that it can now start to register all key timestamps of activities throughout the barge operations from planning to delivery.

“Here, you can see how effective you are in utilising assets, for both the supplier and barge operation side,” he said.

Juhls said efficiencies could also be gained when buyers choose to subscribe to an integration to the solution so they could also get all the delivery information automatically and digitally immediately after the BDN has been issued, instead of sending in an email, a paper format or waiting for administration staff to process it.

He also provided a timeline of Singapore’s digitalisation efforts, starting from April 2021 with the initiative from MPA to accelerate digitalisation in the bunkering industry, the development of a minimal viable product by the end of 2022 and live trials throughout 2023.

SIBCON 2024: ZeroNorth discusses challenges and opportunities of Singapore digital bunkering landscape

Juhls ended his presentation by sharing ZeroNorth’s learnings over the two-year period including emphasis on the importance of ease of use, connectivity, and continuous improvement in the solution.

“We must remember the crew members are not on shore and are actually on sea which is not always easy to operate in those environments. So the e-BDN solution has to be easy and intuitive to use so they can execute their business,” he said.

He also said they encountered connectivity issues at some parts of some areas in the Port of Singapore which was a challenge. To overcome that, an offline mode is a critical component to execute the full workflow without being connected to the internet and submit everything to all the parties when the system is back online.

He highlighted the importance of working closely with customers and adapting the solution based on feedback.

“Even though we’ve now been live for more than 10 months, we still learn new things every day, and we still improve the solution,” he added.

Juhls concluded with the need for partnerships with first movers and ambitious companies to gather valuable insights for further development of the e-BDN solutions.

Related: ZeroNorth: Singapore’s pioneering e-BDN bunkering project makes waves internationally
Related: ZeroNorth and Hapag-Lloyd partner on digital bunker procurement and planning solution
Related: ZeroNorth eBDN solution goes live on 12 Vitol Bunkers barges in Singapore
Related: Marine Fuels 360: Buy-side of bunkering ecosystem keener in digital adoption then supply-side, observes ZeroNorth
Related: ZeroNorth to launch new service enabling integration of eBDN data between suppliers and buyers

 

Photo credit: Manifold Times and ZeroNorth
Published: 15 October, 2024

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Emissions reporting

ZeroNorth and Veracity by DNV launch end-to-end emissions reporting, verification service

New offering combines ZeroNorth’s Vessel Reporting and Emissions Analytics platform with Veracity platform and DNV’s Emissions Connect verification services to deliver an end-to-end compliance solution.

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ZeroNorth and Veracity by DNV launch end-to-end emissions reporting, verification service

Maritime technology solutions provider ZeroNorth on Friday (16 May) said it has partnered with Veracity by DNV to launch a fully integrated emissions reporting and verification service for the maritime industry. 

Teekay is the first customer that will be implementing the service across its fleet, following successful testing and development.

As regulatory requirements tighten, ZeroNorth said maritime operators face growing demands for emissions transparency and reporting integrity. At the same time, poor data quality remains an industry-wide challenge. 

“The new offering combines ZeroNorth’s Vessel Reporting and Emissions Analytics platform with the Veracity platform and DNV’s Emissions Connect verification services to deliver an end-to-end compliance solution,” the company said in a statement. 

“The offering simplifies compliance by integrating automated data reporting with expert validation, reducing administrative burdens and improving data reliability.”

A key differentiator is the multi-layered data quality feedback loop, which ensures emissions data undergoes rigorous validation at multiple stages. Verification warnings from Veracity by DNV are automatically flagged to ZeroNorth’s data quality team, which then works directly with vessel crews to resolve discrepancies before final submission to authorities. 

This reduces compliance risks and enhances regulatory confidence while supporting continuous monitoring of EU MRV, IMO DCS, CII ratings, EU ETS and FuelEU Maritime compliance.

Teekay, a long-standing customer of ZeroNorth, participated in early testing of the solution and providing operational feedback. Since its successful implementation with Teekay, the service has been rolled out to two additional customers, and further deployments are underway.

Anders Schulze, Chief Operations Officer at ZeroNorth, said: “The maritime industry faces growing pressure to ensure emissions data is not just reported, but verified to the highest standards. Yet fragmented systems and manual processes continue to undermine data quality and increase compliance risk. 

“By combining ZeroNorth’s data and analytics capabilities with Veracity by DNV’s verification expertise, we are directly addressing this challenge. Our goal is to build trust in emissions data and reduce complexity for shipowners and charterers. We’re especially pleased that Teekay, a long-time partner, played a central role in shaping and validating the service.”

Mikkel Skou, Managing Director at Veracity by DNV, said: “At Veracity by DNV, the value of our ecosystem is built on strong partnerships, exemplified by our collaboration with ZeroNorth.

“By integrating trusted data and solutions like ZeroNorth’s Vessel Reporting and Emissions Analytics platform, we create a robust network that supports collaboration and drives sustainable growth in the maritime industry. 

“We look forward to continuing working towards our ambition to deliver trust and connectivity to the industry through this partnership with ZeroNorth.”

Mikkel Seidelin, Chief Commercial Officer at Teekay, said: “Partnering with ZeroNorth improves our ability to navigate complexities seamlessly, leveraging on data and technology to optimise our performance and reduce inefficiencies.

“When we are equipped with verified, end-to-end data, it empowers us as owners towards seamless decision-making, resulting in real sustainable and operational target-achievements.”

 

Photo credit: ZeroNorth
Published: 16 May, 2025

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Business

Shipergy expands global presence with two key hires in Hong Kong and New York

Kingsley Chan joins the company’s operations in Hong Kong, while Michael Bergendorff, who was Managing Director and Partner at The Bunker Firm, takes on a key role in New York.

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Shipergy expands global presence with two key hires in Hong Kong and New York

Tech-driven marine fuel trading company Shipergy on Tuesday (13 May) announced the appointment of two seasoned industry professionals to strengthen its global presence and enhance its service capabilities. 

Kingsley Chan joins the company’s operations in Hong Kong, while Michael Bergendorff takes on a key role in New York, marking significant steps in Shipergy’s ongoing expansion strategy.

“We are delighted to welcome Kingsley and Michael to our growing team,” said Michael Stig Nielsen, CCO of Shipergy. 

“Their extensive industry experience and regional knowledge will be invaluable as we continue to expand our global footprint and deliver exceptional value to our clients across key maritime hubs.”

Bergendorff has over 17 years of experience in the shipping, logistics, and bunkering industry to Shipergy. Most recently serving as Managing Director and Partner at The Bunker Firm, where he oversaw operations in the Americas and APAC regions, Bergendorff’s expertise in developing effective strategies that optimize operations and enhance customer satisfaction aligns perfectly with Shipergy’s client-focused approach.

Chan joins Shipergy with 20 years in sales, account management, and business development. Previously a Bunker Trader at Baseblue, Shipergy said Chan’s experience in the Hong Kong market and understanding of marine products and services will strengthen the company’s presence in the Asian region.

The company has its proprietary technology platform, The Wave, which uses real-time data, AI, and machine learning to provide visibility into fuel quality, availability, and decarbonisation potential.

 

Photo credit: Shipergy
Published: 13 May, 2025

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Technology

Endress+Hauser and Bunkerchain prepared for end-to-end digital transactions of e-BDN integration ops in 2025

Entities showcased their complete solution to delegates during the 23rd Singapore International Bunkering Conference and Exhibition.

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E+H eBDN

Swiss-based mass flowmeter (MFM) manufacturer Endress+Hauser and digital bunkering solutions provider Bunkerchain is preparing their systems in advance for seamless digital bunkering transactions of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA)’s pioneering electronic bunker delivery note (e-BDN) project, learned Manifold Times.

During the 23rd Singapore International Bunkering Conference and Exhibition (SIBCON 2024), spokesmen from Endress+Hauser and Bunkerchain explained to delegates how their systems work in unison to prepare for the upgrade.

“At SIBCON 2024, we showed our digital bunkering solution together with Bunkerchain, one of our partners for e-BDN,” said Mohamed Abdenbi, Global Business Manager Solutions, Endress+Hauser.

“As soon as a bunker operation is completed, our MFM system automatically transmits ticket data to the bunker app of Bunkerchain for e-BDN documentation.

“With this set up we are ready to support end-to-end digital transactions of e-BDN in Singapore.”

According to Mr Abdenbi, full digitalisation of e-BDN implementation at Singapore port will further significantly increase the efficiency to the republic’s bunker industry due to automation and the likelihood of wrong data filled into bunker checklists being reduced to a minimum.

“Data can be easily shared between the different parties to make daily workflows more efficient. This will have a positive effect on productivity of the bunker industry,” he explained.

“We can confirm this when looking at our own Endress+Hauser paperless production processes and the response of our customers who make use of our Netilion* cloud offering.

“Inconsistent data along the different system components would raise questions and doubts.

“Therefore, we believe it is of great importances the MFM vendor offers a complete and interoperable system for data transmission to ensure necessary integrity of data to make life easy for MFM users and authorities by having a central contact.”

FMS Digital Bunkering Solution 03c page 0001

Leon Ling, CEO of Bunkerchain, echoed Mr Abdenbi’s thoughts.

“At SIBCON 2024, Bunkerchain showcased direct connectivity between Endress+Hauser’s MFM system and our e-BDN solution,” he shared.

“This setup enabled seamless data transfer from the MFM to our e-BDN system onboard vessels, even without internet connectivity. This innovation ensures critical bunker data is securely captured and processed in real-time, paving the way for full digitalisation of e-BDN implementation at Singapore port in 2025.”

Use of MFMs, combined with solutions such as e-BDN, streamline workflows by automating data capture to reduce manual errors for secured real-time data sharing among stakeholders, he noted.

These advancements enhance operational accuracy, improve compliance, and establish a robust framework for efficient and sustainable bunker operations.

Global Energy Trading Pte Ltd (GET), the trading arm of Singapore bunker supplier Global Energy Group, earlier announced the successful implementation of Bunkerchain’s e-BDN system.

During Singapore Maritime Week 2024, Bunkerchain signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with S&P Global Market Intelligence and MPA to pilot the use of digital ship identity in the republic.

*Netilion is a cloud-based IIoT ecosystem designed by Endress+Hauser for industrial processes. It connects the physical and digital worlds to send information from the field straight to the user’s phone, tablet or other device. 

Related: Global Energy Trading selects Bunkerchain e-BDN solution in Singapore
Related: SMW 2024: MPA partners with S&P Global and Bunkerchain in digital ship identity

 

Photo credit: Endress+Hauser
Published: 13 May, 2025

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