Singapore: Equatorial reaches milestone with company’s first B100 bio bunker fuel delivery

Singapore bunker supplier Equatorial Marine Fuel Management Services Pte Ltd (Equatorial) on 30 April achieved a company milestone with its first B100 bio bunker fuel delivery, conducted at the Tanjong Pagar Terminal.

The development saw Equatorial’s Singapore-flagged 7,999 dwt IMO Type II bunker tanker EM Nikita delivering 800 metric tonnes (mt) of Used Cooking Oil Methyl Ester (UCOME) based B100 biofuel to a Pure Car Carrier operated by Mitsui O.S.K.Lines (MOL).

“As a homegrown bunker supplier for more than 30 years, Equatorial is always supportive of Singapore as a leading Port and maritime hub especially in the area for marine fuel and bunkering,” Choong Sheen Mao, Chief Operating Officer at Equatorial, told Manifold Times.

“With the successful delivery of the B100 biofuels, Equatorial will continue to strengthen its capabilities to provide multi-fuel solutions with low or zero GHG emissions.”

So Kah Meng, Sustainable Energy Manager at Equatorial, explained Equatorial had to overcome a series of challenges for the milestone operation.

This included sourcing for a constant supply of UCO that could be processed into UCOME, while factoring in the rising prices of UCOME material and increased cost and complexity of operations.

“Despite the challenges, Equatorial was still able to secure reliable suppliers with proven track record regionally to provide ISCC-EU RED II UCOME,” he said.

“Further, Equatorial managed to be certified under ISCC-EU for the past few years with biofuel deliveries and also obtained knowledge to operate IMO Type II chemical tankers as bunkering vessels, hence this plan has been thought through over the past few years to make this happen.”

Patrick Ng, Assistant Marketing Manager at Equatorial, meanwhile, noted the company is currently operating two IMO Type II bunker tankers; it will receive delivery of an additional two similar vessels by end 2025.

“These vessels are built in China and Equatorial constantly reviews its newbuild and fleet renewal programme to ensure the vessels are able to safely and effectively deliver quality marine fuels to customers,” he noted.

Moving forward, Mr Ng believed green initiatives introduced by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has produced a commercial landscape to promote bunkering of biofuel material.

This included permitting the use of Singapore-registered conventional bunker tankers to transport blends of not more than 30% by volume of biofuel (≤B30) for marine refuelling operations with effect from 7 March 2025.

“It is definitely a great move welcome by Equatorial as this policy further strengthens local capabilities as the leading maritime and bunkering hub,” he stated.

“As a homegrown bunker supplier for more than 30 years, Equatorial is always supportive of Singapore as a leading Port and maritime hub especially in the area for marine fuel and bunkering.

“With the recent successful delivery of the B100 biofuels, Equatorial will continue to strengthen its capabilities to provide multi-fuel solutions with low or zero GHG emissions.”

Related: Singapore: Equatorial Marine Fuel builds four “new generation” methanol-ready bunker tankers
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: 8 May 2025