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Singapore set to become first port in the world to debut electronic bunker delivery notes

MPA will launch its digital bunkering initiative to implement electronic bunkering processes and documentations, such as e-BDN, from 1 November to boost efficiency and transparency.

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The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) on Monday (23 October) said it will launch the digital bunkering initiative on 1 November 2023, becoming the first port in the world to implement electronic bunker delivery notes (e-BDN).

This was announced by Mr Chee Hong Tat, Acting Minister for Transport and Senior Minister of State for Finance during the International Safety@Sea Conference yesterday. 

“Bunkering is the process of supplying fuels to ships for their own use. Currently, the maritime industry relies on physical bunker delivery notes, a standard document required by the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships that contains information on fuel oil delivery,” MPA said in a statement. 

“To boost efficiency and transparency during the bunkering process in Singapore, MPA will launch its digital bunkering initiative to implement electronic bunkering processes and documentations, such as e-BDN, from 1 November 2023.”

Over 100 trials have been conducted since January 2023, involving more than 20 companies in the Singapore bunkering ecosystem. Feedback from users will continue to be gathered to improve these solutions with plans to make digital bunkering a mandatory requirement by end 2024. Meanwhile, MPA will continue to explore and work with the industry on other enhancements, including automating the data flow from Mass Flow Meters.

Licensed bunker suppliers, ship owners, operators and crew are encouraged to utilise the mobile and cloud solutions approved by MPA to complete and issue digital bunkering documents, which can save close to 40,000 man-days per year for the bunker industry. 

MPA has approved these solutions to ensure conformance to standards and that they meet cybersecurity, baseline functionality, risk management and regulatory reporting requirements. These digital solutions will automatically relay bunkering-related information required by MPA, thereby reducing compliance costs and improving productivity. The digital approach also streamlines workflow and enhances crew safety by eliminating the need for physical transfer of bunker documents between vessels. 

The industry-led Singapore Standards Council is developing a new Specification for digital bunkering supply chain documentation and revising the existing SS648:2019 Code of Practice of Bunker Mass Flow Metering to support electronic bunkering documentation. MPA is also working with Enterprise Singapore and Workforce Singapore to support maritime companies in the early adoption of digital bunkering and manpower upskilling.

According to MPA’s current list of approved digital bunkering solutions, three providers have been whitelisted so far. MPA has noted that the list will be progressively updated:

Screenshot 2023 10 24 at 8.29.52 AM

Note: For any queries, you may contact [email protected]

Manifold Times previously reported International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA) stating that the International Maritime Organization has formally confirmed that bunker delivery notes (BDNs) are acceptable in either hard copy or digital form providing they meet the relevant requirements of MARPOL Annex VI with additional protection and verification requirements for electronic BDNs.

Related: IBIA: International Maritime Organization confirms acceptance for electronic BDNs (update)
Related: IBIA: MEPC 80 confirms acceptance for electronic bunker delivery notes
Related: IBIA: IMO sub-committee accepts use of electronic BDNs after long discussion

Photo credit: Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore
Published: 24 October, 2023

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LNG Bunkering

Singapore: FueLNG achieves 800th LNG bunkering operation milestone

Bunker tanker “FUELNG Venosa” delivered LNG marine fuel to bulk carrier “MV Ubuntu Humanity” at Eastern Bunkering A Anchorage (AEBA) on 11 July.

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Singapore: FueLNG completes 800th LNG bunkering operation

Singapore’s licensed LNG bunker supplier FueLNG on Friday (17 July) announced the successful completion of its 800th LNG bunkering operation in the republic.

The company said bunker tanker FUELNG Venosa delivered LNG marine fuel to bulk carrier MV Ubuntu Humanity at Eastern Bunkering A Anchorage (AEBA) on 11 July. 

“This achievement is more than just a number,” FueLNG said.

“It reflects the trust our customers place in us, the dedication of our operations team, the professionalism of our marine partners, and our unwavering commitment to safe, efficient, and reliable bunker deliveries.” 

Manifold Times previously reported FueLNG completing its 500th LNG ship-to-ship (STS) bunkering operation.

Related: Singapore: FueLNG achieves milestone of 500th STS LNG bunkering operation

 

Photo credit: FueLNG
Published: 20 July, 2026

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Alternative Fuels

Repsol and Maersk wrap up first bioethanol bunkering operation in Port of Barcelona

Repsol supplied 2,800 mt of bioethanol to a Maersk container vessel, “Antonia Maersk”, in the first bunkering operation of its kind in the Port of Barcelona and one of the first in the Mediterranean.

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Repsol and Maersk wrap up first bioethanol bunkering operation in Port of Barcelona

Spanish energy company Repsol and shipping giant A.P. Moller – Maersk (Maersk) completed the first bioethanol bunkering operation in the Port of Barcelona, according to the port authority on Wednesday (15 July). 

Repsol successfully supplied 2,800 metric tonnes (mt) of bioethanol to a Maersk container vessel, Antonia Maersk, in the first bunkering operation of its kind in the Port of Barcelona and one of the first in the Mediterranean. 

The operation demonstrates growing demand for alcohol-based marine fuels, as well as the readiness of the infrastructure, logistics, and operational capabilities required to support their deployment at commercial scale. 

Juan Abascal, Repsol’s Executive Managing Director of Industrial Transformation and Circular Economy, said: “With this supply, we reaffirm our commitment to the decarbonization of maritime transport through solutions that are available today and ready to scale in the future. 

“At Repsol, we provide shipping companies with a reliable supply chain and a multi-energy strategy that combines different renewable fuels to support the sector in a safe, competitive, and sustainable transition.”

The supply took place in the Port of Barcelona under fully commercial conditions, bringing together key players across the maritime value chain and demonstrating how collaboration can accelerate the adoption of lower-emission solutions in shipping. 

The delivery was carried out by Bahía Candela, Repsol’s newest bunker vessel, operated by Mureloil and designed to supply both conventional marine fuels and next-generation energy products. 

During the bunkering operation, Bahía Candela operated using its battery system, enabling the fuel transfer to be completed with zero local emissions, and further reducing the environmental footprint of the operation. 

Prior to the bunkering, Maersk tested ethanol on one of its smaller vessels, the 1,800 TEU feeder vessel Laura Maersk, which in 2023 became the world’s first dual-fuel container vessel able to operate on methanol. Today, Maersk has 23 dual-fuel container vessels designed to operate on methanol; however, the company continues to explore ethanol as an alternative fuel for its methanol-enabled vessels. Laura Maersk has performed sailings on 100% ethanol as well as blends of ethanol and methanol. 

Emma Mazhari, Vice President Energy Markets at Maersk, said: “Following the successful ethanol trials conducted on Laura Maersk, this latest bunkering of Antonia Maersk marks another important step in our efforts to explore scalable low-emission fuel solutions. 

“As the first ethanol trial on one of our large dual-fuel vessels, with a capacity of 16,000 TEU, it allows us to deepen our understanding of ethanol’s operational potential at scale. 

“Building on the experience we have gained with methanol, we are working closely with port authorities and industry partners to develop the infrastructure and procedures needed to support ethanol bunkering. Ethanol is one of several pathways we are pursuing to diversify our future fuel portfolio and help accelerate the development of new, viable liquid marine fuel markets.”

 

Photo credit: Port of Barcelona
Published: 20 July, 2026

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Alternative Fuels

Port of Santos hosts Brazil’s first bioethanol bunkering of deep-sea containership

Copersucar, CMA CGM Group, AGEO Terminais, Santos Brasil and Bunker One completed a bioethanol bunkering operation for “CMA CGM IRON”, the first 13,000 TEU tri-fuel certified engine containership.

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Port of Santos hosts Brazil's first bioethanol bunkering of deep-sea containership

Sugar and bioethanol trading company Copersucar on Monday (13 July) said the company and its partners successfully completed a bioethanol bunkering operation for the CMA CGM IRON, the first 13,000 TEU tri-fuel certified engine containership, at the Port of Santos on 12 July.

The partners are CMA CGM Group, AGEO Terminais, the largest liquid bulk storage operator at the Port of Santos; Santos Brasil, the biggest container terminal in Brazil; and Bunker Holding subsidiary Bunker One. 

Copersucar said the operation represents a major milestone for the decarbonisation of maritime transport, positions Brazil among the countries capable of carrying out this type of bunkering operation, and reinforces bioethanol as a readily available solution to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the shipping sector.

The bioethanol supplied by Copersucar benefits from a certified supply chain. Sugarcane expansion takes place mainly on degraded pastureland, while Brazil’s RenovaBio program establishes stringent sustainability and zero-deforestation requirements.

The bunkering required logistical and operational coordination among multiple stakeholders across the value chain, involving the transport of bioethanol to the Port of Santos, its storage in dedicated infrastructure, and its transfer to the vessel via a specialized barge.

“The operation provides practical evidence that bioethanol offers the attributes needed to accelerate the decarbonisation of maritime transport,” the company said. 

Beyond this first demonstration, the Port of Santos and Santos Brasil container terminal are positioning themselves and Brazil as a future low-carbon marine fuels hub for South America. As the continent’s largest port and a major gateway for global trade, Santos has the potential to connect Brazil’s renewable energy resources with international shipping demand. 

The CMA CGM IRON, delivered in 2025, is the Group’s first vessel in a series of twelve 13,000 TEU containerships, equipped with the world’s first tri-fuel engine certified to operate on bioethanol: Everllence-B&W G95ME-C10.5-LGIM.

“Together with our partners, we have shown that innovation can move from the laboratory to real maritime operations. The certification of our first tri-fuel vessel is a major technological milestone for CMA CGM. It opens the way for the broader use of lower-carbon fuels and gives us new options to accelerate the decarbonisation of our shipping activities” said Christine Cabau Woehrel, Executive Vice President Assets & Operations, CMA CGM.

“This operation demonstrates Copersucar’s ability to connect production, logistics and markets to enable bioenergy solutions at scale. More than a pioneering bunkering operation, we are creating the conditions for bioethanol to become a competitive component of the maritime energy mix, further strengthening Brazil’s leadership in the transition to a low-carbon economy,” said Tomás Manzano, CEO of Copersucar.

“This operation can be considered a milestone in the global maritime industry’s energy transition, as the sector begins to adapt to this new model. Today, Around 70 vessels of the global fleet are capable of operating on methanol and, consequently, with bioethanol. Over the next few years, however, an additional 400 vessels are expected to be delivered from shipyards ready to sail using a non-fossil fuel,” said Flavio Ribeiro, CEO of Bunker One.

 

Photo credit: Copersucar
Published: 14 July, 2026

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