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SMW 2023: MTF gathers industry leaders to discuss challenges of maritime decarbonisation

MTF and others investigate findings and implications of its latest report, which focus on suitability of existing maritime regulations to manage challenges from adoption of new bunker fuel types.
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The Maritime Technologies Forum (MTF), a group of flag states and classification societies, on Tuesday (2 May) said it brought together industry stakeholders during Singapore Maritime Week (SMW 2023) to investigate the findings and implications of its latest report, ‘Operational Management to Accelerate Safe Maritime Decarbonisation’.

The event included a presentation of the report’s main findings by author Yildiz Williams of Lloyd’s Register and a panel comprising Christopher J Wiernicki, Chairman, President and CEO of ABS, Nick Brown, CEO of Lloyd’s Register, Caroline Yang, President of Singapore Shipping Association, Ninad Mhatre, Managing Director of Zeaborn Ship Management, John Lloyd, CEO of The Nautical Institute and was moderated by Pierre Sames, Strategic Development Director for DNV.

The report focuses on the suitability of existing maritime regulations to manage the challenges presented by the adoption of new fuel types across the maritime supply chain. These include the ISM Code, the STCW Convention and Maritime Labor Convention, assessing each for gaps and making recommendations and identifying urgent needs, the relevant actors and barriers to change.

It concludes that there are critical gaps related to safety management, crew training and safety culture onboard ships that need to be closed to enable a safe transition to a decarbonised shipping industry. Strengthening each of these elements will be vital to achieve safe operations with alternative fuels, it finds.

The panel discussed the global challenges around alternative fuel adoption as well as the specific knowledge and experience that seafarers, vessel operators, ship managers and regulators need to acquire in a short time span. The report underlines the need for a blend of regulation, industry guidelines, best practices and government support to close the gaps ahead of current and future decarbonisation deadlines.

“Class, as well as flag States are built for the intersection between technology, safety and regulations and when you look at where we are and the steepness of the curve ahead, the biggest risk is the unintended safety consequences of change,” said Chris Wiernicki, ABS Chairman, President and CEO. 

“We’re moving away from a static fuel environment towards a dynamic fuel environment and recognizing that safety is the mantra of this business, we must be prepared.”

“Seafarers are central to achieving the maritime industry’s decarbonisation ambitions and some 450,000 crew require extra training between now and 2030. However, training does not equate to competence. We have 700 LNG fuel-capable ships on the water today but few of them have been regularly using LNG, challenging trained crews’ familiarity around onboard equipment and bunkering procedures,” said Nick Brown, Lloyd’s Register CEO. 

“As an industry, we need ensure that when crew are trained, they can maintain competency in managing the multiple fuels and technologies they will encounter during this transition.”

Note: The ‘Operational Management to Accelerate Safe Maritime Decarbonisation’ report can be downloaded here. 

A series of earlier SMW 2023 reports covered by Manifold Times in 2022 are as follows:

Related: SMW 2023: DNV study shows 87% of seafarers need training on new bunker fuels
Related: SMW 2023: Discussion held on emerging trends of piracy and sea robbery in Asia
Related: SMW 2023: EOI for ammonia power generation and bunkering closing by 30 April
Related: SMW 2023: MPA and Wärtsilä ink MoU on maritime decarbonisation and digitalisation
Related: SMW 2023: Maritime IAP discusses multi-fuel transition at annual meeting
Related: SMW 2023: MPA, classification societies to collaborate on maritime decarbonisation
Related: SMW 2023: Methanol-based spill scenario organised for ICOPCE table-top exercise
Related: SMW 2023: DNV joins Standards working group on methanol bunkering
Related: SMW 2023: Joint opening ceremony held for MarineTech Conference and Sea Asia Exhibition
Related: SMW 2023: CSA welcomes new members to spur efforts on decarbonising Singapore’s coastal vessels
Related: SMW 2023: A*STAR sets up Centre for Maritime Digitalisation with flagship research on AI tech
Related: SMW 2023 brings together maritime community to take collective action to digitalise, decarbonise
Related: SMW 2023: Singapore, LA and Long Beach ink MoU to establish green and digital shipping corridor

 

Photo credit: Maritime Technologies Forum
Published: 3 May, 2023

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Bunker Fuel

Singapore: Bunker fuel sales soar by 7.5% on year in June 2025

4.59 million mt of various marine fuel grades were delivered at the world’s largest bunkering port in June, up from 4.27 million mt recorded during the similar month in 2024, according to MPA.

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Singapore: Bunker fuel sales soar by 7.5% on year in June 2025

Sales of marine fuel at Singapore port increased by 7.5% on year in June 2025, according to Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) data.

In total, 4.59 million metric tonnes (mt) (exact 4,594,700 mt) of various marine fuel grades were delivered at the world’s largest bunkering port in June, up from 4.27 million mt (4,274,900 mt) recorded during the similar month in 2024.

Deliveries of marine fuel oil, low sulphur fuel oil, ultra low sulphur fuel oil, marine gas oil and marine diesel oil in June (against on year) recorded respectively 1.70 million mt (+8.6% from 1.56 million mt), 2.31 million mt (-7.2% from 2.33 million mt), 1,900 mt (from zero), 4,500 mt (-88% from 8,000 mt) and zero (from zero).

Singapore: Bunker fuel sales soar by 7.5% on year in June 2025

Bio-blended variants of marine fuel oil, low sulphur fuel oil, ultra low sulphur fuel oil, marine gas oil and marine diesel oil in June (against on year) recorded respectively 38,800 mt (+671.7% from 2,500 mt), 114,300 mt (+97.9% from 45,400 mt), zero (from zero), zero (from zero) and zero (from zero). B100 biofuel bunkers, introduced in February this year, recorded 1,000 mt of deliveries in June.

LNG and methanol sales were respectively 55,400 mt (-7.8% from 51,700) and zero (from zero mt). There were no recorded sales of ammonia for the month and so far in 2025.

Related: Singapore: Bunker sales volume raises to year record high of 4.88 million mt in May
Related: Singapore: Bunker fuel sales increase by 4% on year in April 2025
Related: Singapore: Bunker fuel sales increase by 0.5% on year in March 2025
Related: Singapore: Bunker fuel sales down by 8.1% on year in February 2025
Related: Singapore: Bunker fuel sales down by 9.1% on year in January 2025

A complete series of articles on Singapore bunker volumes reported by Manifold Times tracked since 2018 can be found via the link here.

 

Photo credit: Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore
Published: 15 July 2025

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Alternative Fuels

ITOCHU orders world’s first ammonia bunkering vessel for Singapore demonstration project

Company contracted Sasaki Shipbuilding to build the 5,000 m3 vessel and Izumi Steel Works to construct an ammonia tank plant that will be loaded onto the vessel, which is expected to be delivered in 2027.

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ITOCHU orders world’s first ammonia bunkering vessel for Singapore demonstration project

ITOCHU Corporation (ITOCHU) on Monday (14 July) announced that it recently signed a shipbuilding contract for the construction of a 5,000 m3 ammonia bunkering vessel with Sasaki Shipbuilding. 

The company also announced an agreement regarding the construction of an ammonia tank plant that will be loaded onto the vessel with Izumi Steel Works. 

These agreements were signed by Clean Ammonia Bunkering Shipping Pte Ltd (CABS), a wholly owned Singapore-based specific purpose company of ITOCHU. 

In relation to this, CABS has concluded a financing agreement with The Hiroshima Bank for financing a part of purchase price of the vessel.

The agreements were concluded to pursue the Demonstration Project for Bunkering Ammonia as Marine Fuel in Singapore adopted by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry in Japan as part of the Global South Future-oriented Co-Creation Project (large-scale demonstration in ASEAN member states). 

Going forward, with an eye toward the demonstration of ammonia bunkering in Singapore after building the world’s first newbuilding ammonia bunkering vessel, ITOCHU said efforts will be made to facilitate concrete discussions with the maritime stakeholders, including the port authority in Singapore, the Maritime & Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), and the fuel producers, while obtaining support from the Japanese Government.

The vessel is to be flagged under the Singapore Registry and is expected to be delivered in September 2027.

ITOCHU will establish a safe offshore bunkering operation of ammonia as marine fuel by way of ship-to-ship transfer through the development and construction of the vessel and demonstration. 

Then, by utilising the vessel, ITOCHU will establish connection between the first movers in clean ammonia production and the first movers in the ammonia-fueled vessels and secure initial demand for ammonia as marine fuel, aiming at the commercialisation of ammonia bunkering business in Singapore and expansion of similar business model to major maritime transportation points around the world, including Spain (Strait of Gibraltar), Egypt (Suez Canal) and Japan.

 

Photo credit: ITOCHU Corporation
Published: 15 July 2025

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Biofuel

Chimbusco Pan Nation delivers first B30-MGO bio bunker fuel blend supply in Hong Kong

The supply, delivered to Orient Overseas Container Line, represents the first time OOCL has received this fuel blend in the region; operation also included a simultaneous delivery of B30-HSFO.
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Chimbusco Pan Nation delivers first B30-MGO bio bunker fuel blend supply in Hong Kong

Hong Kong-based marine fuel oil supplier Chimbusco Pan Nation Petro-Chemical (CPN) on Friday (11 July) announced the first-ever delivery of a B30-Marine Gasoil (B30-MGO) which consists of 30% biodiesel and 70% Marine Gasoil (MGO), in Hong Kong. 

The supply, delivered to Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL), represents the first time OOCL has received this fuel blend in the region.

In addition to the B30-MGO, this operation included a simultaneous delivery of B30-High Sulphur Marine Fuel Oil.

“This delivery, completed on 11 July, solidifies CPN’s leadership in advancing green fuel solutions in East Asia. Being the first bunker supplier in the region capable of providing all grades of ISCC-EU Certified marine biofuel, including marine fuel and gas oil, CPN demonstrates its commitment to supporting the maritime industry’s transition to sustainable energy,” the company said on its website. 

 

Photo credit: Chimbusco Pan Nation Petro-Chemical
Published: 15 July, 2025

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