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Singapore: Equatorial conducts its first bio-blended LSMGO bunker fuel delivery of 2025

Several key challenges including product sourcing, sustainability certification, product handling, and logistics & planning had to be addressed to execute the complex operation, notes COO of Equatorial.

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Singapore: Equatorial conducts its first bio-blended LSMGO bunker fuel delivery of 2025

Singapore bunker supplier Equatorial Marine Fuel Management Services Pte Ltd (Equatorial) in early May carried out its first bio-blended B24 Low Sulphur Marine Gas Oil (LSMGO) bunker fuel delivery of 2025.

The milestone saw Equatorial’s Singapore-flagged 7,999 dwt IMO Type II bunker tanker EM Nikita delivering Used Cooking Oil Methyl Ester (UCOME) based LSMGO, blended to B24 spec, to an Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL) operated vessel with its electronic bunker delivery note (eBDN).

“This milestone represents not just Equatorial’s first B24 LSMGO delivery, but also a significant step forward for sustainable marine fuel adoption in Singapore,” Choong Sheen Mao, Chief Operating Officer at Equatorial, told Manifold Times.

“It showcases our capability to evolve alongside the market and our commitment to providing certified, traceable, and high-quality biofuels to our customers.”

According to So Kah Meng, Sustainable Energy Manager at Equatorial, several key challenges including product sourcing, sustainability certification, product handling, and logistics & planning had to be addressed to execute the complex operation.

“Bio-blended LSMGO is significantly rarer in the market than bio-blended VLSFO due to limited production capacity, stricter blending requirements, and limited downstream demand. Equatorial secured supply through advanced procurement planning and leveraging trusted ISCC-certified upstream partners,” he explained.

“ISCC EU certification was essential to ensure traceability and regulatory compliance. Equatorial worked closely with its supply chain to ensure full documentation and sustainability verification ahead of the delivery schedule.

“Unlike bio-VLSFO, bio-blended LSMGO’s lower viscosity and pour point demanded additional considerations in tank pre-treatment and temperature control during transfer. Equatorial implemented specialised cleaning protocols and temperature monitoring to maintain fuel integrity.

“Coordination between our UCOME supplier, storage facility, barge planning, and receiving vessel was critical. Equatorial’s in-house technical and commercial teams worked closely with the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and classification societies to ensure regulatory compliance and operational safety.”

Moving forward, Patrick Ng, Assistant Marketing Manager at Equatorial, believed the milestone operation was made possible by the favourable commercial maritime landscape under the supervision of MPA.

“Singapore’s strong regulatory framework, established bunkering infrastructure, and growing customer interest in low-carbon fuels have made it possible for projects like this to be commercially viable,” he stated.

“Equatorial is proud to contribute to Singapore’s decarbonisation leadership.”

Related: Singapore: President of Equatorial Marine Fuel Management Services receives ‘Industry Icon Award’
Related
: Singapore: Equatorial Marine Fuel launches sustainable energy business unit, commits towards multi-fuel future
Related: Singapore: Equatorial Marine Fuel conducts carbon credit trial with Carbon Management Solutions
Related: Singapore-registered bunker tankers can transport up to B30 biofuels from 7 March

 

Photo credit: Equatorial Marine Fuel Management Services
Published: 20 May 2025

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LNG Bunkering

CLPe and CNOOC achieve first SIMOPS LNG bunkering operation in Hong Kong

About 10,000 m3 of LNG was supplied to “Hanoi Express”, marking the largest single LNG bunkering operation in Hong Kong to date and the city‘s first STS LNG bunkering with simultaneous cargo handling.

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CLPe and CNOOC achieve first SIMOPS LNG bunkering operation in Hong Kong

Hong Kong has achieved its largest single liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering operation to date and the city‘s first ship-to-ship LNG bunkering with simultaneous cargo handling on 5 June, according to CLPe and CNOOC Guangdong Water Transport Clean Energy Company (CNOOC) on Tuesday (10 June). 

CLPe teamed up with CNOOC to supply around 10,000 cubic metres (m3) of LNG to the container vessel Hanoi Express from the German shipping company Hapag-Lloyd during cargo handling at Kwai Tsing Container Terminals. 

The operation integrated bunkering and cargo operations in a streamlined process, enabling Hanoi Express to be filled with LNG within 24 hours while loading and unloading cargo at Kwai Tsing Container Terminals, significantly reducing its port turnaround time and operating costs.

The LNG bunkering operation was conducted by CNOOC’s Haiyang Shiyou 301, which is 184.7 metres long and 28.1 metres wide. As the first domestically built LNG bunkering vessel in the Mainland, it is equipped with both LNG transportation and bunkering capabilities and is designed primarily to supply fuel to international maritime vessels. 

Haiyang Shiyou 301 is also the largest LNG bunkering and transport vessel in the world, with a storage capacity of 30,000 cubic meters and a refuelling rate of 1,650 cubic meters per hour.

The HKSAR Government released an Action Plan on Green Maritime Fuel Bunkering last year and enacted the Shipping Legislation (Use of Fuels and Miscellaneous Amendments) Ordinance 2024 this year, promoting the city’s development into an international green maritime fuel bunkering centre.

Secretary for Transport and Logistics Ms Mable Chan, said: “The success of this operation was made possible by the joint efforts of LNG supplier CNOOC and LNG bunker seller CLPe. Conducting bunkering during cargo operations—and with the bunkering of green maritime fuel which reduces carbon emissions—truly delivers a synergistic effect where one plus one is greater than two.”  

Ms Chan predicted the simultaneous operation would encourage the bunkering sector in Hong Kong to provide more services for vessels using LNG and other green maritime fuels. This would also give international shipping lines greater confidence and convenience in choosing the Hong Kong port for bunkering, cargo handling, and related operations, she suggested. 

CLP Holdings Chief Executive Officer Mr T. K. Chiang remarked that Hong Kong’s strategic geographic location makes it an ideal international shipping centre. As one of the world’s top ten bunkering centres, the city welcomes over 5,000 ocean-going vessels every year, and the switch to low-carbon and net-zero marine fuels is a growing trend in the global shipping industry.

Guangzhou Municipal Commerce Bureau Deputy Director Mr Wu Wei-hau said enhanced cooperation between Hong Kong and Guangzhou in the development of green marine fuel would play a key role in providing more internationally competitive green shipping services in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

In November 2024, CLPe and CNOOC announced plans for a joint venture to provide LNG bunkering services in Hong Kong, aiming to accelerate the green transformation of the shipping industry. 

Related: Hong Kong unveils action plan to become green maritime bunkering centre
Related: CLPe and CNOOC form joint venture to offer LNG bunkering in Hong Kong

 

Photo credit: CLPe and CNOOC
Published: 11 June, 2025

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LNG Bunkering

China: Annual LNG bunker volume at Ningbo-Zhoushan Port exceeds 100,000 m3 for first time

Ningbo-Zhoushan Port has delivered a total of 106,000 cubic meters of LNG marine fuel as of the end of May, exceeding the annual bunkering volume of 2024.

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China: Annual LNG bunker volume at Ningbo-Zhoushan Port exceeds 100,000 m3 for first time

Ningbo-Zhoushan Port has delivered a total of 106,000 cubic meters of LNG marine fuel as of the end of May, according to Zhejiang Seaport Group on Tuesday (3 June). 

This marked the first time the annual bunkering volume exceeded 100,000 cubic metres (m3), exceeding the total volume and number of bunkering operations in 2024. 

With the acceleration of the decarbonisation of global shipping industry and change in the International Maritime Organization (IMO) carbon emission reduction regulations, Ningbo-Zhoushan Port faces the challenge of low-carbon transformation of international shipping and continues to expand and improve the its position as a seaport for bunker fuel supply. 

Since completing the first LNG bunkering business in Zhejiang Province at Meishan Port in June 2023, Ningbo Zhoushan Port has efficiently expanded its LNG bunkering services and has successively extended its business to the two core port areas of Chuanshan and Daxie. 

The port also successfully obtained bunkering qualifications for Zhoushan anchorage and gradually built a bunkering network covering the core operating areas. 

While continuously consolidating its LNG bunkering operations, Ningbo-Zhoushan Port is actively developing a variety of alternative fuel bunkering operations such as biofuels and green methanol.

At present, the port has successfully completed the country’s first biofuel bunkering operation of a container vessel at sea and has achieved full coverage of biofuel bunkering operations at the two container terminals of Chuanshan and Meishan. 

 

Photo credit: Zhejiang Seaport Group
Published: 11 June, 2025

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Biofuel

OMTI completes first B30 biofuel bunkering operation in Fujairah

Company said this milestone marked a significant step forward in the Middle East’s commitment to maritime decarbonisation and the advancement of sustainable shipping solutions.

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OMTI completes first-ever B30 biofuel bunkering operation in Fujairah

Marine fuel supplier Oil Marketing and Trading International (OMTI) on Friday (6 June) said it successfully completed the first-ever B30 marine biofuel bunkering operation at the Port of Fujairah. 

The company said this milestone marked a significant step forward in the Middle East’s commitment to maritime decarbonisation and the advancement of sustainable shipping solutions.

“The B30 biofuel blend, consisting of 30% renewable biofuel mixed with 70% conventional marine fuel, was delivered to a commercial vessel at one of the world’s busiest bunkering hubs,” it said in a social media post. 

“This pioneering operation demonstrates OMTI’s capability to meet the evolving demands of the global shipping industry.”

The company supplies marine fuel in Fujairah , Khorffakan, Kalba and all other ports of the United Arab Emirates. 

 

Photo credit: Oil Marketing and Trading International
Published: 9 June, 2025

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