Business

Straits Energy Resources and Fendercare Marine to promote Labuan STS services

STS hub will be Straits’ sustainable energy flagship project in Victoria Bay deep water area spanning a vast 3,309 hectares supporting an initial six STS berths.

Published

3 years ago

December 16, 2021

Admin

Malaysia-listed Straits Energy Resources (SER), formerly known as Straits Inter Logistics, on Wednesday (15 December) said its subsidiary Victoria STS (Labuan) Sdn Bhd (Victoria STS) has signed a Heads of Agreement (HOA) with Fendercare Marine (Asia Pacific) Pte Ltd (FCM).

The HOA aims to form an exclusive collaboration to provide ship-to-ship (STS) services together at the port limit of Victoria Bay, Labuan, Malaysia.

Ensuring the success of the STS transhipment hub, both parties will combine their synergistic resources and expertise to provide STS services at Victoria Bay Port Limit.

Victoria STS, a 70% owned subsidiary of Fajar Maritime and Logistics Sdn Bhd, which in turn is a 60% owned subsidiary of Straits, has been awarded a concession to develop an integrated offshore ship-to-ship energy transhipment hub at Victoria Bay Port Limit.

The STS hub will be Straits’ sustainable energy flagship project in Victoria Bay deep water area spanning a vast 3,309 hectares supporting an initial six STS berths with safe water depths of up to 30 meters.

Straits’ Group Managing Director Dato Sri Ron Ho Kam Choy said: “As a result of our diligent efforts the last few months in seeking the right and synergistic collaboration partner for this STS project, we are delighted to have gained a valued and important partner in Fendercare.

“This collaboration will kickstart Straits’ foray into the sustainable and alternative energy space and together with Fendercare, our prime focus right now is to establish Victoria Bay Port Limit as a major energy transhipment hub in Asia. We are confident of being able to serve the needs of major global shipping line customers with our combined wide spectrum of energy related maritime solutions and infrastructure.

“The STS hub is scheduled to commence operation by early 1st quarter 2022.”

“Straits as a fast-growing enlarged group is always looking for business opportunities to increase its earnings base, and this exclusive collaboration with Fendercare will definitely open up an array of numerous exciting opportunities not only for Victoria STS but also the other entities within the Straits Group that will benefit from the business spin-offs of this project.”

Fendercare’s Managing Director Elizabeth Skinner commented: “We are delighted to be collaborating with Straits Energy Resources on this new venture to establish STS exclusively at Victoria Bay Port Limit in Labuan, Malaysia.”

“Since we first met with Dato Sri Ron and his team it was clear their passion for quality and a safety-first philosophy mirrored that of our own, so we are excited to be working together.

“Fendercare are world leaders in STS with close to 60 STS locations globally and we pride ourselves on delivering safe and efficient operations for the world’s largest energy companies and commodity traders and this reputation has been built up over 25 years.

“Our success is also due to the relationships we have with our local partners and with Straits we are confident we can develop Victoria Bay into an STS hub location for transfer of all oil and gas cargoes without restriction on vessel sizes.

“Furthermore, due to the favourable met ocean conditions at the STS location at Victoria Bay, we will also be conducting STS transfers of LNG. As the drive increases for the world to transition to cleaner and greener sources of energy, LNG STS is becoming more commonplace and where we have over a decade’s experience.

“So for us to offer transfers of LNG as well as all oil cargoes at Victoria Bay gives our customers additional options and flexibility which we anticipate an appetite for and hope to grow this venture together with Victoria STS and Straits.”

Straits on 12 July 2021 received approval from the Marine Department Malaysia to develop Asia’s largest STS transhipment hub in Victoria Bay Port Limit, Labuan.

Photo credit: Straits Energy Logistics
Published: 16 December, 2021

Winding up

Singapore: Annual general meetings scheduled for Xihe Holdings subsidiaries

Development includes Da Xin Tankers, Dong Sheng Tankers, Dong Ya Tankers and Hua Zhong Shipping; meetings will be held electronically on 7 and 8 May, according to Government Gazette notices.

Published

20 hours ago

April 23, 2025

Admin

Several notices were published on the Government Gazette on Tuesday (22 April) regarding the annual general meetings of the companies and creditors to be held electronically on 22 April for Xihe Holdings subsidiaries.

The subsidiaries are Dong Sheng Tankers Pte Ltd, Da Xin Tankers Pte Ltd, Dong Ya Tankers Pte Ltd, and Hua Zhong Shipping Pte Ltd.

Annual general meeting for Dong Sheng Tankers are to be held on 8 May at the following times:

For the company: 2pm

Annual general meetings for Da Xin Tankers are to be held on 7 May at the following times:

For the company: 10am
For the creditors: 11am

Annual general meetings for Dong Ya Tankers are to be held on 8 May at the following times:

For the company: 10am
For the creditors: 11am

Annual general meetings for Hua Zhong Shipping are to be held on 7 May at the following times:

For the company: 2pm
For the creditors: 3pm

The agenda for all the meetings are:

To receive an update on the liquidation.
To receive an account of the Liquidators’ acts and dealings, and of the conduct of the winding up

Manifold Times previously reported on the winding up of Da Xin Tankers, Dong Ya Tankers and Hua Zhong Shipping Pte Ltd and the appointment of the joint and several liquidators of the firms.

Photo credit: Drew Beamer
Published: 23 April, 2025

LNG Bunkering

Osaka Gas launches shore-to-ship LNG bunkering service at its terminal

Company says it is the first gas utility company in Japan to offer LNG bunker fuel at its terminal to vessels and is also exploring the potential of replacing LNG with e-methane as a marine fuel.

Published

20 hours ago

April 23, 2025

Admin

Osaka Gas launches shore-to-ship LNG bunkering service at its terminal

Osaka Gas on Monday (21 April) said it has launched its shore-to-ship LNG bunkering service, becoming the first gas utility company in Japan to offer liquefied natural gas (LNG) at its terminal to vessels.

The first delivery took place today at Osaka Gas’ Senboku LNG Terminal in Takaishi City, Osaka Prefecture, where LNG was supplied to Verde Heraldo, a bulker operated by Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL).

Manifold Times previously reported that the bulker will sail under long-term transport contracts to supply raw materials for JFE Steel Corporation's mills.

With the launch of the shore-to-ship service, in addition to its existing truck-to-ship LNG bunkering service—operational since 2019—Osaka Gas enhances its LNG fuel delivery capabilities to address the current scarcity of facilities in Japan that can supply LNG to vessels.

The company’s future plans include the introduction of a ship-to-ship LNG bunkering service utilising a dedicated LNG bunkering vessel, scheduled to commence in fiscal 2026.

These supply methods aim to provide a stable and flexible LNG fuel supply to an increasing number of LNG-fuelled vessels as the maritime industry transitions away from heavy fuel oil.

This growth in LNG-fuelled vessels is driven by global decarbonisation trends and the International Maritime Organization’s target to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Through its LNG bunkering services, Osaka Gas is well-positioned to contribute to maritime industry sustainability.

Osaka Gas launches shore-to-ship LNG bunkering service at its terminal

In addition to expanding LNG fuel supply to vessels, Osaka Gas is exploring the potential of replacing LNG with e-methane as a marine fuel.

Photo credit: Osaka Gas
Published: 23 April, 2025

Alternative Fuels

Japan: J-ENG begins co-firing of first full-scale marine engine with ammonia

Company says the first Japanese-developed and manufactured commercial full-scale, low-speed, ammonia-fuelled two-stroke engine has started co-firing operation with ammonia.

Published

20 hours ago

April 23, 2025

Admin

Japan: J-ENG begins co-firing of first full-scale marine engine with ammonia

Japan Engine Corporation (J-ENG) on Monday (21 April) said the first Japanese-developed and manufactured commercial full-scale, low-speed, ammonia-fuelled two-stroke engine has started co-firing operation with ammonia, which will be installed in a vessel.

J-ENG is developing the engine under the “Green Innovation Fund Project: Next-generation Ship Development” of the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO).

Since May 2023, when J-ENG started the world's first ammonia co-firing operation of a large, low-speed, two-stroke engine in a test engine, J-ENG has obtained many results and knowledge, including stable operation at high ammonia co-firing rates and safe handling of ammonia, through various test operations over a period of about a year and a half.

J-ENG will conduct verification operations on the full-scale engine and plans to ship the engine in October of this year. The engine will be installed on an Ammonia-fuelled Medium Gas Carrier (AFMGC) and then demonstration operations of the vessel will be carried out then.

In order to accommodate a wide variety of ammonia-fueled vessels, J-ENG is also concurrently developing an ammonia-fueled engine with a cylinder bore of 60cm, following the first engine with a 50cm cylinder bore mentioned above, for several promising follow-on projects.

Furthermore, after achieving the development and social implementation of these engines, the company has decided to construct a new plant with the support of a subsidy project by the Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism through the GX Economic Transition Bonds.

The new plant, which is scheduled for completion in 2028, will expand the production of ammonia fuel engines (in the product mix with fuel oil engines) and promote the spread and expansion of zero-emission ships.

“J-ENG, as a first mover of next-generation fuel engines, will contribute to the development of the Japanese shipping and shipbuilding industries through the early launch and expansion of these engines, and at the same time, contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gases (GHG) in international shipping and the achievement of carbon neutrality by 2050,” the company said on its website.

Photo credit: Japan Engine Corporation
Published: 23 April, 2025