Marine fuels supplier Monjasa on Thursday (27 March) said it delivered a total of 900 metric tonnes (mt) of B30 biofuel to NYK-operated vessel Hestia Leader in the Port of Cristobal, Panama on 2 February.

This ship-to-ship operation was performed by the 19,991 dwt Monjasa Thunder and marked the first ISCC-certified biofuels supply in Panama and the establishment of a scalable 2nd generation marine biofuels supply chain. This setup is capable of supplying a total of 5,000-7,000 mt monthly.

On 24 March 2025, the Panama Canal Authority announced the introduction of a NetZero Slot designed to support and reward shipowners and operators on their journey towards decarbonisation.

General Manager Latin America, Jonas Bruslund, said: “The introduction of biofuels in Panama has progressed slower than in major bunkering hubs like Singapore or Rotterdam, mainly due to lack of local feedstock and customer commitments.”

“However, we have now developed a viable strategy with a longstanding business partner to ship biofuels products from Europe for the benefit of shipowners operating in the Panama Canal area.”

“The Panama Canal has a strong agenda to promote low-carbon fuels and higher energy efficiency and we are pleased to challenge the status quo and actively support these efforts.”

Monjasa established its local maritime logistics in 2015 and today manages seven vessels across the Atlantic and Pacific areas of the Panama Canal.

In the Americas, Monjasa has already established biofuels partnerships across the port of Callao in Peru and in Cartagena, Colombia.

As an ISCC-certified partner, Monjasa allows all involved parties to trace feedstock used to produce biofuels from the point of origin to the end consumer. On this first supply in Panama, the B30 product consisted of 30% Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME) and 70% Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (VLSFO).

Monjasa still awaits the shift away from sporadic biofuels inquiries to a broader pick-up in demand. Until then, Monjasa aims to continue establishing a string of global biofuels supply locations to support the shipping industry in meeting IMO’s 2050 climate change commitments.

Photo credit: Monjasa
Published: 28 March, 2025

Digital bunker trading platform Xmar on Monday (24 March) said it has facilitated the trade of over 100,000 metric tonnes (mt) of bunker fuel through more than 200 deals, in less than six months since launching. 

The company said this achievement highlighted Xmar’s growing impact on the maritime industry, offering a modern and transparent alternative to traditional bunker fuel procurement.

Operating with a network of over 1,500 verified suppliers across 500 global ports, Xmar provides buyers with access to competitive bunker fuel offers and enhanced market reach. The platform streamlines the bunker fuel procurement process by offering real-time pricing, transparent terms, and various credit options.

“This milestone reflects the strong momentum we’re building and the value we’re delivering to the industry,” said Christoph Stork, CEO at Xmar.

“Our mission is to modernise bunker fuel trading, and hitting 100,000 metric tonnes in such a short time confirms that the market is ready for this change.”

Xmar was launched to solve the persistent inefficiencies in the bunker fuel supply chain. Through its digital-first approach, Xmar has enabled both buyers and suppliers to trade more efficiently, securely, and transparently.

As digital adoption accelerates across the maritime sector, Xmar said it is positioning itself at the forefront of a new era in bunker fuel trading. With ongoing development of new features and services, the platform aims to provide even greater value to its users, while continuing to expand its global presence.

“We are just at the beginning of our journey,” added Christoph Stork.

“Our team is focused on continuing to improve the user experience. We’re building the infrastructure for the future of bunker fuel procurement.”

Related: XMAR invites companies to join pilot phase of online bunker trading platform
Related: General Index and XMAR to integrate marine fuel pricing data into trading platform

Photo credit: Xmar
Published: 26 March, 2025

Ningbo Maritime Safety Administration (Ningbo MSA) on Monday (17 March) said Ningbo Port completed its first biofuel bunkering operation of an international ship on 15 March. 

Bunkering vessel Si Jie 21 successfully refuelled the container ship COSCO Italy with 1,600 metric tonnes (mt) of B24 biofuel at the Chuanshan Port area of Ningbo Zhoushan Port.

The B24 biofuel used in this operation comprises a blend of 24% used cooking oil methyl ester (UCOME) and 76% fuel oil. It is expected to reduce the ship's carbon emissions by approximately 20%.

“At present, the International Maritime Organization has put forward higher requirements on carbon emissions from ships. It is also a general trend to promote the green and low-carbon transformation of the shipping industry,” said a representative of the Hazardous Materials Management and Pollution Prevention Department of Ningbo Maritime Safety Administration.

“Biofuel bunkering is one of the ways. This has positive significance for the development of China's shipping industry and the protection of the ecological environment.”

In order to ensure the safe and orderly progress of the bunkering operation, Ningbo MSA set up a special team to actively explore and study measures to ensure the safety of bunkering operations, and guide bunkering units to carry out special research on navigation safety and risk identification of ship-to-ship bunkering operations.

Ningbo MSA added the successful completion of this bunkering operation marked that Ningbo-Zhoushan Port Ningbo Port has successfully joined the ranks of the few ports in China that have the ability to provide both LNG and biofuel bunkering services.

Photo credit: Ningbo Maritime Safety Administration
Published: 18 March, 2025