Alternative Fuels

Singapore: ONE vessel completes trial with Chevron’s B24 biofuel bunker

MOL ENDOWMENT was refuelled with 992 mt of biofuel bunkers at Port of Singapore, on 21 December 2022; biofuel and its blends were dosed with a physical tracer.

Published

2 years ago

February 22, 2023

Admin

Ocean Network Express (ONE) on Tuesday (22 February) announced the successful completion of the biofuel trial onboard MOL ENDOWMENT.

Singapore Trade Data Exchange (SGTraDex), a digital infrastructure that facilitates the sharing of data between supply chain ecosystem partners, facilitated the digital transfer of data for the first biofuel trade between Chevron and ONE.

Conducted as part of the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation’s (GCMD) pilot project to establish a quality, quantity and GHG abatement assurance framework for drop-in biofuels, the M/V MOL ENDOWMENT was refuelled with 992 metric tonnes (mt) of marine biofuel product from Chevron at the Port of Singapore, on 21 December 2022.

The vessel, deployed on ONE’s Japan Straits Malaysia (JSM) service, fully utilised the biofuel in 20 days. Biofuel consumption started on 7 January 2023, after the vessel left the port of Kobe in Japan, passing Keelung, Hong Kong and then sailed to Southeast Asia. The biofuel was fully consumed on 26 January 2023, on its return voyage to Japan from Port Klang.

The biofuel used was B24, a blend of Used Cooking Oil Methyl Ester (UCOME), and Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (VLSFO). UCOME is produced from Used Cooking Oil (UCO), which is derived from residue or feedstocks labelled as 100% waste and has been certified for its sustainability in accordance with internationally recognized ISCC standards.

The biofuel blend, supplied by Chevron, is considered a sustainable fuel that is similar to petroleum-derived marine fuels in terms of its operational application.

Tracing these biofuels along the supply chain from production to use is a key aspect of GCMD’s pilot to articulate a robust GHG abatement assurance framework. As such, the biofuel and its blends were dosed with a physical tracer and subjected to multiple samplings across its supply chain for laboratory analysis. The resultant data will be used by GCMD as inputs in developing the assurance framework.

The trial required no modifications to the marine engines or fuel infrastructure. It also demonstrated that marine biofuel products can be considered ‘Drop-in fuels’ for reducing carbon emissions from ships. The use and testing of the biofuel were performed in partnership with shipowner Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd., and the biofuel was supplied in accordance with the standard on specifications of marine biofuel (WA2:2022) established by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore.

Digitisation of Bunkering Documents

The trial also marked a step forward in digitisation as the biofuel transaction was made digitally through the SGTraDex. SGTraDex is a digital utility that facilitates the sharing of data between supply chain ecosystem partners through a common data highway to enable secure exchange of information.

During the biofuel trial, the exchange of documents between ONE and Chevron were made through SGTraDex. These documents include the Certificate of Quality, Bunkering Sales Confirmation, Bunker Delivery Note, Bunkering Sales Invoice (Delivery). Additionally, supporting documents, such as Mass Flow Meter (MFM) receipts, MFM seals checklist, meter recording form and International Sustainability and Carbon (ISCC) Certification, were also done digitally. This digitisation of bunkering documents helped to reduce the paper-based processes and made the transaction both more efficient and secure.

“The maritime industry has many interconnected players, and collaboration is key in moving our decarbonisation ambition forward. It is encouraging to see the various partners at different points of the supply chain come together in this biofuel trial for the common goal of a better, more sustainable future,” said Jeremy Nixon, CEO of Ocean Network Express.

“At ONE, digitisation and decarbonisation are some of our top business priorities. This fourth biofuel trial marks a step forward in our goal to achieve net-zero by 2050.”

“With the maritime sector’s drive towards lowering greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, we are starting to see accelerated pivots towards a new generation of alternative sustainable fuels” said Antoine Cadoux, CEO SGTraDex Services.

“ONE is happy to partner SGTraDex and Chevron on this biofuel transaction as it aligns with our efforts in digitisation and sustainability. At ONE, we believe that digitisation will help the industry be more future ready and efficient. To get there, collaborations across industry players on initiatives like these are important to help pave the way for a greener future” said Takashi Kase, Senior Vice President of Global Vessel Operations, Fuel and Marine Safety & Quality at ONE.

Photo credit: Ocean Network Express
Published: 22 February, 2023

Biofuel

Hercules Tanker Management vessel “Mount Kibo” takes on B30 bio bunker fuel

HTM said its tanker was successfully supplied with B30 bunkers by tanker “Hercules Sky”, another HTM-owned vessel and operated by Peninsula, marking the first biofuel supply to the HTM fleet.

Published

5 hours ago

April 30, 2025

Admin

Hercules Tanker Management vessel “Mount Kibo” takes on B30 bio bunker fuel

Hercules Tanker Management (HTM) on Tuesday (29 April) announced that its tanker Mount Kibo has been successfully supplied with B30 bunkers by tanker Hercules Sky, another HTM-owned vessel which is operated by Peninsula.

The operation marked the first biofuel supply to the HTM fleet.

HTM is the shipping venture launched last September by John A. Bassadone, founder and CEO of independent marine fuel supplier Peninsula.

HTM said the operation carried out in the Strait of Gibraltar aligns with the recent discussions at MEPC 83, where key decisions were made to advance maritime decarbonisation, including new fuel standards and a global pricing mechanism for emissions.

“Additionally, this initiative supports the objectives of the FuelEU Maritime Regulation, which promotes the use of renewable, low-carbon fuels and clean energy technologies for ships,” it said.

“By utilising biofuels, we are contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and supporting the industry's transition towards cleaner energy solutions.”

Photo credit: Hercules Tanker Management
Published: 30 April, 2025

Alternative Fuels

DNV: Seven steps to obtain approval for ammonia- and hydrogen-fuelled ships

DNV summarizes how shipowners can apply a practical, structured approach to gaining approval for ammonia- or hydrogen-fuelled ships as both are gradually emerging as suitable bunker fuels.

Published

5 hours ago

April 30, 2025

Admin

Classification society DNV on Monday (28 April) released an article summarizing how shipowners can apply a practical, structured approach to gaining approval for ammonia- or hydrogen-fuelled ships.

From engaging early with flag administrations to addressing design risks, training crews, and managing bunkering safely, DNV described seven essential steps to receive approval:

The paper – Safe introduction of alternative fuels: Focus on ammonia and hydrogen as ship fuels – offers a structured pathway for shipowners to achieve approval through IMO’s alternative design approval (ADA) process.

Seven steps to obtain approval for ammonia- and hydrogen-fuelled ships

“We outline seven steps to assist shipowners and other stakeholders in obtaining approval and safely deploying ammonia- and hydrogen-fuelled ships in today’s immature regulatory environment,” says Linda Hammer, Principal Consultant, Environment Advisory at DNV and lead author of the white paper. “The regulatory path is certainly complex, but the steps and safety measures in the paper add up to a clear, achievable pathway to ship approval and safe operations. It also explains how DNV’s support can significantly ease this process through its tailored rule sets and learnings from pilot projects.”

t1 ind 586 steps to obtain approval (1)

Understanding ADA phases: From initial design to final approval

IMO’s IGF Code (International Code of Safety for Ship Using Gases or Other Low-flashpoint Fuels) currently covers natural gas but not ammonia or hydrogen. Without detailed regulations, IMO’s risk-based ADA process (MSC.1/Circ.1455) is used. It involves demonstrating that the ship’s safety level is equivalent to that of conventional oil-fuelled vessels.

t4 ind 586 milestones in the two phases (1)

ADA has two main phases. A preliminary design approval requires a hazard identification (HAZID) study, developing a preliminary risk assessment, and defining preliminary risk-control measures and safety strategies.

Phase two, final design approval, starts with refining the design with detailed technical and safety documentation, then making a final risk assessment, addressing integration and operation-specific concerns. Then come complete system integration testing and submitting findings to the flag administration.

Role of class and flag administrations in approval process

As the IMO regulatory framework progresses towards eventually amending the IGF Code, classification societies like DNV can give shipowners a head start in designing vessels by issuing class certificates and providing prescriptive rule frameworks to support ADA.

t2 ind 586 the status of the development of imo safety regulations

Flag administrations enforce statutory regulations and have the final say on approvals. Early and active engagement with the relevant flag administration is therefore the key to clarifying approval expectations and streamlining ADA.

Subject to flag administration acceptance, the DNV rules can be applied as the flag administration’s approval basis or to significantly reduce the complexity of ADA.

Simplifying ship approval: DNV’s rules for ammonia and hydrogen fuels

DNV’s classification rules for ammonia and hydrogen (i.e. the “Gas fuelled ammonia” notation published in 2021 and the 2024 “Gas fuelled hydrogen” notation) provide structured, prescriptive requirements as far as possible to simplify ADA. Applying them helps reduce uncertainty in flag administration approval, streamlines design focus by aligning with expected risk assessments, and provides predictability to shipowners, ship designers and shipyards.

The paper describes step-by-step actions for obtaining approval. First, engage DNV and the flag administration early to clarify the approval basis. “DNV can help owners and yards in the initial contact with the flag administration to obtain necessary clarification regarding the approval scope and process,” says Hammer.

Second, align the design with DNV rules to ensure it provides a strong technical basis for risk evaluation. Third, tap into DNV’s extensive and growing experience from prior projects to anticipate what risk studies and documentation may be needed.

The paper also discusses measures to manage the new technical, human and organizational risks that both fuels bring compared to conventional fuels. DNV’s dedicated ship rules for each fuel type outline technical requirements and mitigation systems to integrate during design and operation.

Note: DNV’s full article on ‘Practical guide for approval of ammonia- or hydrogen-fuelled ships’ can be read here.

Photo credit: DNV
Published: 30 April, 2025

Methanol

Ofiniti to roll out e-BDNs for Golden Island methanol bunkering operations in Singapore

Ofiniti will issue electronic Bunker Delivery Notes, based on the recently published Technical Reference 129 on Methanol Bunkering, across Golden Island’s newbuilds and part of its existing fleet.

Published

1 day ago

April 29, 2025

Admin

Ofiniti to roll out e-BDNs for Golden Island methanol bunkering operations in Singapore

Ofiniti, a provider of digital solutions for maritime bunker operations, on Tuesday (29 April) said Singapore bunker supplier Golden Island Pte Ltd will adopt Ofiniti platforms for its expanding fleet operations.

Ofiniti said the move will lay the foundation for a digital multi-fuel future with Golden Island’s four new chemical tankers on order and Singapore-flagged bunker tanker Golden Antares, which will soon enter service.

As part of the transition, Ofiniti will roll out electronic Bunker Delivery Notes (e-BDNs), based on the recently published Technical Reference (TR) 129 on Methanol Bunkering, across Golden Island’s newbuilds and part of its existing fleet.

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and Enterprise Singapore (EnterpriseSG), through the Singapore Standards Council (SSC), on 10 March published TR 129 to provide a comprehensive framework for the safe and efficient use of methanol as an alternative fuel for bunkering operations.

Kenny Yap Song Jin, Low Carbon Solutions, Golden Island, said: “Launching our methanol bunkering operations is a major milestone, not just for Golden Island, but for Singapore’s journey toward multi-fuel readiness.

“By combining innovative low-carbon fuels with digital transparency, we set a new benchmark for safe, efficient, and sustainable marine fuel delivery.”

Ofiniti said it has supported suppliers through every stage of the industry’s transition, from conventional fuels to LNG, biofuels, hydrogen, and now, supporting methanol.

Tue Nielsen, Chief Executive Officer, Ofiniti, said: “I’m proud to welcome Golden Island to Ofiniti’s platforms.

“Their move signals a strong trust in our ability to support next-generation operations, and it reflects a broader shift in the market towards digital solutions built specifically for the realities of maritime fuels today and tomorrow.

“We are customer-obsessed, always trying to build in resilience to the way we are doing business.”

Manifold Times previously reported Golden Island’s plans to start bunkering trials of green methanol with its newbuild Singapore-flagged 7,999 dwt IMO type 2 bunker tanker from July.

Golden Antares was scheduled to depart a Chinese shipyard by late April and will lift green methanol produced by Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited (Towngas) before returning to Singapore to begin bunkering trials.

In April, Ofiniti welcomed bunkering and marine fuel solutions provider Global Fuel Supply (GFS) to its FuelBoss platform as one of its newest customers.

GFS said it was proud to be the first physical supplier in West Africa to launch fully digitalised bunker operations with electronic bunker delivery note (e-BDN) via the FuelBoss platform.