Bunker Fuel

Singapore: MPA notifies shipping community on resolutions adopted by MPEC 81

Bunker fuel-related resolutions include adoption of amendments to MARPOL Annex VI concerning definition of fuel oil and gas fuel, clarification on sampling point(s) and BDN for low-flashpoint fuels and gas fuels.

Published

5 months ago

May 27, 2024

Admin

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) on Friday (24 May) issued Port Marine Circular No. 4 of 2024 informing the shipping community of resolutions, including those related to bunker fuel, adopted by MPEC 81:

RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED BY THE 81st SESSION OF THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION COMMITTEE (MEPC 81) OF THE INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANISATION (IMO)

This circular informs the shipping community of the resolutions adopted by MEPC 811 and urges the shipping community to prepare for the implementation of these resolutions.

The mandatory resolutions adopted by MEPC 81 include the following:

Resolution MEPC.383(81) – Amendments to Regulations A-1 and B-2 of the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ship’s Ballast Water and Sediments (IBWMC), 2004

This resolution adopts amendments to Regulations A-1 and B-2 of the IBWMC concerning the use of electronic record books. The amendments will enter into force on 01 October 2025 and will be given effect through amendments to the Prevention of Pollution of the Sea (Ballast Water Management) Regulations.

Resolution MEPC.384(81) – Amendments to Protocol I of MARPOL (Reporting Procedures for the Loss of Containers)

This resolution adopts amendments to Protocol I of MARPOL concerning the reporting procedures for the loss of freight containers that includes cross referencing SOLAS V/31 and V/32 requirements on danger messages. The amendments will enter into force on 01 January 2026 and will be given effect through amendments to the Prevention of Pollution of the Sea (Reporting of Pollution Incidents) Regulations.

Resolution MEPC.385(81) – Amendments to MARPOL Annex VI (LowFlashpoint Fuels and Other Fuel Oil Related Issues, Marine Diesel Engine Replacing Steam System, Accessibility of Data and Inclusion of Data on Transport Work and Enhanced Granularity in the IMO Ship Fuel Consumption Database (IMO DCS))

This resolution adopts amendments to MARPOL Annex VI concerning the definition of fuel oil and gas fuel, NOx requirements related to replacing a steam system with a marine diesel engine, clarification on sampling point(s) and bunker delivery notes for low-flashpoint fuels and gas fuels, and expansion of data required relevant to the IMO DCS. The amendments will enter into force on 01 August 2025 and will be given effect through amendments to the Prevention of Pollution of the Sea (Air) Regulations.

MEPC 81 also adopted the following resolutions:

Resolution MEPC.386(81) – 2024 Guidelines as required by Regulation 13.2.2 of MARPOL Annex VI in respect of Non-Identical Replacement Engines not required to meet the Tier III limit

This resolution contains guidance on the criteria of when it is not possible for a replacement engine to meet the standards in regulation 13.5.1.1 (Tier III), with additional points for consideration in determining the Tier of engine required when replacing a steam system. This Guidelines supersede the 2013 Guidelines adopted by resolution MEPC.230(65).

Resolution MEPC.387(81) – Interim Guidance on the Application of the BWM Convention to Ships Operating in Challenging Water Quality (CWQ) Conditions

This resolution contains guidance to assist ships in planning for compliance with the BWM Convention and the D-2 discharge standard when a type-approved ballast water management system (BWMS) that has been properly installed, operated and maintained encounters operational limitations or has difficulty meeting the operational demand in CWQ conditions.

Resolution MEPC.388(81) – Amendments to the 2022 Guidelines for the Development of a Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP) (Resolution MEPC.346(78))

This resolution adopts amendments to the 2022 Guidelines for the development of a Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP) (resolution MEPC.346(78)) to support the required information to be reported to the IMO DCS after amendments to Appendix IX of MARPOL Annex VI have entered into force.

Resolution MEPC.389(81) – Amendments to the 2022 Guidelines for Administration Verification of Ship Fuel Oil Consumption Data and Operational Carbon Intensity (Resolution MEPC.348(78))

This resolution adopts amendments to the 2022 Guidelines for Administration Verification of Ship Fuel Oil Consumption Data and Operational Carbon Intensity to support the required information to be reported to the IMO DCS after amendments to Appendix IX of MARPOL Annex VI have entered into force.

Resolution MEPC.390(81) – Amendments to the 2021 Guidelines on the Shaft/Engine Power Limitation System to comply with the EEXI Requirements and Use of a Power Reserve (Resolution MEPC.335(76), as amended by Resolution MEPC.375(80))

This resolution adopts amendments to the 2021 Guidelines on the Shaft/Engine Power Limitation System to comply with the EEXI Requirements and Use of a Power Reserve (resolution MEPC.335(76), as amended by resolution MEPC.375(80)), to support a uniform and consistent application, including the use of power reserve of the Shaft/Engine Power Limitation System.

Resolution MEPC.391(81) – 2024 Guidelines on Life Cycle GHG Intensity of Marine Fuels (2024 LCA Guidelines)

This resolution contains guidance on the life cycle GHG intensity assessment for all fuels and other energy carriers (e.g. electricity) used on board a ship and aim at covering the whole fuel life cycle (with specific boundaries), from feedstock extraction/cultivation/ recovery, feedstock conversion to a fuel product, transportation as well as distribution/bunkering, and fuel utilization on board a ship, amongst other things. This resolution revokes the LCA Guidelines adopted by resolution MEPC.376(80).

In addition to the adoption of resolutions, the following Unified Interpretation (UI) was also approved by MEPC 81:

MEPC.1/Circ.795/Rev.9 – Unified interpretations to MARPOL Annex VI (Regulations 2.2.15 and 2.2.18).

Any queries relating to this circular should be directed to MPA Shipping Division via email at [email protected].

Photo credit: Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore
Published: 27 May 2024

Bunker Fuel

SIBCON 2024: EnterpriseSG to launch new Singapore standard for e-BDN

EnterpriseSG, through the Singapore Standards Council, will launch a new Singapore Standard 709 Specification for Digital Bunkering Supply Chain Documentation.

Published

18 hours ago

October 10, 2024

Admin

SIBCON 2024: New Singapore standard on digital bunkering to be launched

Enterprise Singapore (EnterpriseSG), through the Singapore Standards Council (SSC), will launch a new Singapore Standard (SS) 709 Specification for Digital Bunkering Supply Chain Documentation, according to Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) on Wednesday (9 October).

MPA said the new standard will ensure data consistency and interoperability between digital systems and facilitate smoother transactions through trusted and verifiable digital bunkering documents.

This comes following Amy Khor, Senior Minister of State for the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment and the Ministry of Transport, announcing that from 1 April 2025, all bunker suppliers will be required to provide digital bunkering services and issue electronic bunker delivery notes (e-BDNs) as a default.

The move was decided following successful pilots conducted since 1 November 2023 with bunker suppliers, including the top 10 bunker players, in Singapore.

To further enhance transparency and transaction integrity in bunkering operations, MPA will also introduce a centralised e-BDN record verification facility. This enables key stakeholders to verify the e-BDN received against the information transmitted to MPA.

EnterpriseSG has also launched the revised Singapore Standard (SS) 648 Code of Practice for Bunker Mass Flow Metering to include data integrity and transmission requirements in line with this new digital standard.

In the first eight months of 2024, MPA said Singapore saw strong growth of approximately 7% in total bunker sales over the same period last year, reaching over 36 million tonnes. Biofuels and liquefied natural gas bunker sales surpassed 700,00 metric tonnes.

To support the operationalisation of a higher mix of low-carbon alternative fuels, both EnterpriseSG and MPA are developing the Singapore standards for methanol bunkering and ammonia bunkering by 2024 and 2025 respectively.

The standards will cover custody transfer requirements, safety procedures and crew competencies, to ensure safe bunkering operations and handling of these fuels.

MPA also announced that three major shipping lines — Hafnia, K-Line, and MOL — are in early discussions to join the Singapore - Port of Los Angeles (LA)- Port of Long Beach (LB) Green and Digital Shipping Corridor (GDSC) initiative.

Each partner would be expected to spearhead a project to advance the corridor’s decarbonisation and digitalisation goals, such as the adoption of net-zero fuels, Just-in-Time route optimisation, and energy efficiency technologies such as wind-assisted ship propulsion.

The addition of the new partners will significantly strengthen the GDSC’s capacity to drive innovation in sustainable shipping practices and accelerate the adoption of zero/near-zero emission fuels and green technologies along the corridor.

Photo credit: Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore
Published: 10 October, 2024

Alternative Fuels

SIBCON 2024: SGMF releases methanol and ammonia bunkering guidelines

SFMF published Bunkering Guidelines for Ammonia and Bunkering Guidelines for Methanol, as well as Emergency Response Guide for Ammonia; also revealed new brand to reflect four key future marine fuels.

Published

18 hours ago

October 10, 2024

Admin

SIBCON 2024: SGMF releases methanol and ammonia bunkering guidelines

SGMF on Wednesday (9 October) announced the release of the Bunkering Guidelines for Ammonia and Bunkering Guidelines for Methanol, as well as the Emergency Response Guide for Ammonia.

During the 23rd Singapore International Bunkering Conference (SIBCON), SGMF also revealed its new brand reflecting the organisation’s current activities in the four key marine fuels for the future: LNG, methanol, ammonia and hydrogen.

SGMF is a membership-based organisation leading safe maritime decarbonisation with members across the full value chain of marine fuels, including suppliers, operators, owners, equipment manufacturers, class societies, port authorities, individuals and training organisations.

While the search for the perfect alternative fuel continues, SGMF said methanol and ammonia are two of the fuels that the global merchant fleet has identified and is looking to implement, emphasising the importance of these guidelines.

Methanol – With the first vessels already running on methanol, and many more on order, methanol is ahead of the curve in terms of adoption. It has also overtaken regulation, meaning that these early adopters are having to put forward safety solutions that have not yet been documented, and bunker suppliers using existing chemical carriers are trying to second guess what conversion and equipment may be needed to make their vessels physically compatible with the ships being produced. These methanol bunkering guidelines have been published as a first draft to highlight the key safety factors that need to be considered when designing and bunkering a vessel of any type with methanol.

Ammonia – Despite ammonia (NH3) not yet being commercially available as a marine fuel, this bunkering document provides guidance to all the stakeholders currently investigating and developing the bunkering of ships with fully refrigerated (-33°C) ammonia.

A range of potential hazards are expected with bunkering ammonia and to date there is very limited experience, with only one series of bunkering trials conducted as at March 2024.

As a result, Bunkering Guidelines for Ammonia draws primarily on the current experience of LNG bunkering, the wider ammonia marine transport industry and the shoreside ammonia production and transport industry experience.

“The overall aim of these guidelines is therefore to ensure that ammonia-fuelled ships are bunkered safely, reliably, efficiently and in an environmentally responsible way, targeting the avoidance of operational or fugitive emissions of ammonia,” SGMF added.

These publications have been compiled with extensive input from the SGMF membership, as well as with collaborative support from the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD) and the Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping (MMMCZCS).

Note: The bunkering guidelines are available in the shop on SGMF portal and the Emergency Response Guide for Ammonia can be downloaded through its free resources section.

Photo credit: SGMF
Published: 10 October, 2024

Technology

SIBCON 2024: TFG Marine to launch ZeroNorth e-BDNs in Singapore

‘We are excited to work with providers such as ZeroNorth to roll out eBDNs to our customers, not only in Singapore but across our global operations,’ says Kenneth Dam, TFG Marine Global Head of Bunkering.

Published

18 hours ago

October 10, 2024

Admin

SIBCON 2024: TFG Marine to launch ZeroNorth e-BDNs in Singapore

TFG Marine (TFG), the international marine fuel joint venture founded by Trafigura, Frontline and Golden Ocean, on Wednesday (9 October) said it will introduce ZeroNorth’s electronic bunker delivery notes (eBDNs) solution for its customers in Singapore by the end of the year.

Kenneth Dam, TFG Marine Global Head of Bunkering, made the announcement during the International Trade and Fuel Market Trends panel discussion at the 23rd Singapore International Bunkering Conference (SIBCON).

Dam said: “We are excited to work with providers such as ZeroNorth to roll out eBDNs to our customers, not only in Singapore but across our global operations.”

“This technology will help digitalise the bunker delivery process, reduce administrative burdens, enhance digital documentation, and contribute to a smarter, more connected bunkering sector.”

“We are committed to advocating for the adoption of eBDNs as a global standard for bunker fuel delivery.”

The fully digital solution, accessible through TFG Marine’s mobile app and integrated with SGTraDex digital infrastructure, will enable the inclusion of additional data, such as mass flow meter readings during fuel deliveries.

“This will drive substantial improvements in efficiency, accuracy, compliance, and sustainability across operations, complementing our global mass flow meter global rollout across our fleet and ensuring TFG Marine remains at the forefront of the bunkering industry,” the firm added.

Photo credit: TFG Marine
Published: 10 October, 2024