Mass Flowmeter

TFG-sponsored paper: Singapore shows implementing certified, calibrated MFM system works

Paper argues global adoption of calibrated MFMs will bring much-needed transparency to bunkering; proposes Singapore’s MFM- based bunker licensing system as a template for regulators in other regions.

Published

9 months ago

January 10, 2024

Admin

TFG-sponsored paper: Singapore shows implementing certified, calibrated MFM system works

TFG Marine, the global marine fuel supply and procurement joint venture between Trafigura and shipping firms Frontline and Golden Ocean, on Tuesday (9 January) published its industry-endorsed Modernising Marine Fuel Delivery white paper written in collaboration with marine fuel supply expert Adrian Tolson.

The firm said the paper outlined the multiple benefits of the adoption of calibrated coriolis mass flow meters (MFMs).

It called on all marine fuel supply chain participants to actively support the widespread implementation of this digital and vetted technology, that not only brings added transparency, but through accurate data capture will assist shipowners, ports and other industry stakeholders in meeting their decarbonisation ambitions.

“This paper argues that the global adoption of calibrated mass flow meters (MFMs) will bring much-needed transparency to bunkering by generating accurate, real- time data for all stakeholders along the marine fuel supply chain,” according to the introduction of the paper.

“It describes the problems for the industry caused by inaccurate quantity measurement and sets out a number of remedial actions. It recognises the success of Singapore’s MFM- based bunker licensing system and proposes this as a template for regulators in other regions across the world. It calls on all supply chain participants to actively support MFM-based deliveries, promote transparency and encourage digitalisation in the long-term interests of the bunker industry and to help further the decarbonisation goals of the shipping industry.”

In a section titled “Lessons from Singapore”, the paper said Singapore has shown that implementing a certified, calibrated MFM system works over the last six years.

“It has been a key factor in transforming one of the world’s most challenging bunker markets (in terms of quantity measurement) into one where quantity measurement concerns (at least from barge to ship) have totally disappeared,” the paper said.

“All this has been achieved with Singapore maintaining its prowess as the world’s largest bunkering location and the cheapest in Asia.”

It added MPA’s success provides a model for the rest of the industry.

“Having said that, it must also be recognised that what Singapore has achieved may be harder to implement in other jurisdictions. Laxer regulatory regimes have, up to now, shown little if any willingness to tackle the fundamental problems of the industry,” it said.

The paper also said Singapore has demonstrated how MFM regulations could be introduced in the industry to support bunker suppliers and buyers with the technical mechanism for monitoring transactions accurately.

“Its all-encompassing approach to regulation has raised industry standards by transforming business practice across its supply chain. Singapore’s regulatory regime provides a solid foundation for the industry that should be emulated globally. The question for the industry is how best to put this into practice,” it said.

It described Singapore’s bunker fuel supply licensing programme as “robust, comprehensive and enforceable.”

The MPA has licensing requirements for all four different levels of service providers: bunker surveyors, bunker tankers, bunker tanker operators and physical suppliers. These requirements can and do change frequently. In addition, all members of the bunker supply chain, as well as others (including vessels taking bunkers), must abide by a common set of standards governing bunkering activity in the port.

These include SS 600, Singapore Standard Code of Practice for Bunkering; SS 648, Singapore Standard Code of Practice for Bunker Mass Flow Metering; SS 524, Singapore Standard Specification for Quality Management for Bunker Supply Chain; and the Singapore MPA’s Standards for Port Limit Bunker Tankers.

“Singapore’s all-encompassing approach to regulation was a rational response to extreme circumstances,” the paper stated.

“Prior to licensing, its bunker supply community’s reputation had been badly tarnished by repeated scandals. Introducing a rigorous regulatory regime has brought much-needed order and clarity. Singapore is now widely regarded as one of the best places in the world to conduct bunkering business. All this has been achieved without damaging the port’s competitiveness.”

The paper concluded that marine fuel suppliers must progressively introduce ISO 22192-compliant MFM systems, not just where it is mandatory, but at other international locations.

“Shipowners and fuel buyers should aim to continue to buy from these suppliers even if headline prices move higher,” it concluded.

The paper was endorsed by industry stakeholders including Lloyd’s Register, Hafnia, Golden Ocean, Cepsa, Metcore International Pte Ltd and Fratelli Cosulich.

Note: The full white paper titled ‘Modernising marine fuel delivery’ can be viewed here.

Photo credit: TFG Marine
Published: 10 January, 2024

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China: Zhoushan to host 7th IPEC commodities, bunker conferences on 16 to 17 October

Global marine bunker development will be among main topics of discussion at the 7th International Petroleum and Natural Gas Enterprises Conference (IPEC).

Published

2 days ago

October 11, 2024

Admin

China: Zhoushan to host 7th IPEC commodities, bunker conferences on 16 to 17 October

The 7th International Petroleum and Natural Gas Enterprises Conference (IPEC) is taking place at Zhoushan, Zhejiang province, China between 16 to 17 October.

The agenda, provided by the Zhoushan High-tech Zone Administrative Committee to foreign event media partner Singapore bunkering publication Manifold Times, is as follows:

16 October

Registration and sign-in for participating guests
Meetings between Zhejiang Provincial and Zhoushan Municipal leaders with VIPs

17 October

Morning

Plenary Session of the Conference (Oriental Hall, Zhoushan International Conference Center)

Leader’s speech, guest keynote speech, signing of major projects

Discussion Topics [*17 October, 2pm to 5pm]

Focus Topic Meeting: Global marine bunker development*
Location: Haitian Hall, Haizhongzhou International Hotel, Zhoushan

14:00-14:05 - Opening of the Meeting

14:05-14:15 - Speech by Leaders

14:15-14:30 - Announcement of "Top Ten Global Bunkering Ports" and "Top Ten Global Bunkering Companies"

14:30-14:40 - Announcement of Construction Work of Northeast Asia Bonded Marine Fuel Bunkering Hub

14:40-14:50 – Launch ceremony of Zhoushan "White-list" Bunker Barge Mass Flow Meter System Pilot Certification Programme

14:50-15:10 - Signing Ceremony

15:10-16:10 - Keynote speech

16:10-16:35 - Coffee break

16:35-17:05 - Roundtable forum (Topic: Facing green and low-carbon transformation in global shipping, how do marine fuels change in response to the trend?)

17:05-17:35 - Roundtable forum (Topic: The road to develop high-quality offshore fuel bunkering metering under the new developments)

17:35-17:40 - Moderator’s summary

Utilising financial innovation, futures and spot cooperation to promote the construction of a hub for the allocation of bulk commodity resources*
Location: Putuo Hall, Zhoushan International Conference Center

Open development of global shipping trade*
Location: Donghai Hall, Hilton Zhoushan

International iron ore trade development*
Location: Banquet Hall 1/3, The Westin Zhujiajian Resort, Zhoushan

Development of China's new chemical materials industry during the “15th Five-Year Plan”*
Location: Banquet Hall 1/3, The Westin Zhujiajian Resort, Zhoushan

Development of non-ferrous metal mining industry*
Location: Lianhua Ocean Hall, Hilton Zhoushan

16 and 17 October
International maritime law of the free trade port (zone)
Location: Fortune Hall, Zhoushan CaiFu Hotel

Photo credit: Zhoushan High-tech Zone Administrative Committee
Published: 11 October, 2024

Bunker Fuel

SIBCON 2024: EnterpriseSG to launch new Singapore standard for e-BDN

EnterpriseSG, through the Singapore Standards Council, will launch a new Singapore Standard 709 Specification for Digital Bunkering Supply Chain Documentation.

Published

3 days ago

October 10, 2024

Admin

SIBCON 2024: New Singapore standard on digital bunkering to be launched

Enterprise Singapore (EnterpriseSG), through the Singapore Standards Council (SSC), will launch a new Singapore Standard (SS) 709 Specification for Digital Bunkering Supply Chain Documentation, according to Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) on Wednesday (9 October).

MPA said the new standard will ensure data consistency and interoperability between digital systems and facilitate smoother transactions through trusted and verifiable digital bunkering documents.

This comes following Amy Khor, Senior Minister of State for the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment and the Ministry of Transport, announcing that from 1 April 2025, all bunker suppliers will be required to provide digital bunkering services and issue electronic bunker delivery notes (e-BDNs) as a default.

The move was decided following successful pilots conducted since 1 November 2023 with bunker suppliers, including the top 10 bunker players, in Singapore.

To further enhance transparency and transaction integrity in bunkering operations, MPA will also introduce a centralised e-BDN record verification facility. This enables key stakeholders to verify the e-BDN received against the information transmitted to MPA.

EnterpriseSG has also launched the revised Singapore Standard (SS) 648 Code of Practice for Bunker Mass Flow Metering to include data integrity and transmission requirements in line with this new digital standard.

In the first eight months of 2024, MPA said Singapore saw strong growth of approximately 7% in total bunker sales over the same period last year, reaching over 36 million tonnes. Biofuels and liquefied natural gas bunker sales surpassed 700,00 metric tonnes.

To support the operationalisation of a higher mix of low-carbon alternative fuels, both EnterpriseSG and MPA are developing the Singapore standards for methanol bunkering and ammonia bunkering by 2024 and 2025 respectively.

The standards will cover custody transfer requirements, safety procedures and crew competencies, to ensure safe bunkering operations and handling of these fuels.

MPA also announced that three major shipping lines — Hafnia, K-Line, and MOL — are in early discussions to join the Singapore - Port of Los Angeles (LA)- Port of Long Beach (LB) Green and Digital Shipping Corridor (GDSC) initiative.

Each partner would be expected to spearhead a project to advance the corridor’s decarbonisation and digitalisation goals, such as the adoption of net-zero fuels, Just-in-Time route optimisation, and energy efficiency technologies such as wind-assisted ship propulsion.

The addition of the new partners will significantly strengthen the GDSC’s capacity to drive innovation in sustainable shipping practices and accelerate the adoption of zero/near-zero emission fuels and green technologies along the corridor.

Photo credit: Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore
Published: 10 October, 2024

Bunker Fuel

SIBCON 2024: Singapore bunker suppliers must provide e-BDN from 1 April 2025

Senior Minister of State Amy Khor also announced MPA will reduce the frequency of verification checks for mass flow meters from twice a year currently, to once a year, from 1 April 2025.

Published

5 days ago

October 9, 2024

Admin

SIBCON 2024: Singapore bunker suppliers must provide e-BDN from 1 April 2025

From 1 April 2025, all bunker suppliers in the Port of Singapore will be required to provide digital bunkering services as a default, said Senior Minister of State for Transport and Sustainability and the Environment Amy Khor on Wednesday (9 October).

Khor said Singapore will be the first port globally to implement digital bunkering at scale. MPA launched the digital bunkering initiative on 1 November 2023, becoming the first port in the world to implement electronic bunker delivery notes (e-BDN).

“This initiative is expected to save the industry close to 40,000 man-days annually. In addition, MPA will introduce a centralised electronic Bunker Delivery Note record verification facility to enhance the transparency and integrity of transactions in bunkering operations,” she said in her speech at the 23rd Singapore International Bunkering Conference and Exhibition (SIBCON).

She emphasised that the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) will work closely with industry partners and the unions to digitalise and streamline processes to improve efficiency in our port; strengthen our capabilities for the bunkering of future fuels and encourage adoption of these fuels; and upskill our workforce to facilitate the green transition.

Khor also made the following announcements:

From 1 April 2025, MPA will reduce the frequency of verification checks for mass flow meters from twice a year currently, to once a year. Singapore was the first port globally to adopt mass flow meters in 2017, and this new move is expected to help the industry save approximately $300,000 annually.
From 1 January 2025, MPA will roll out two innovative AI applications, DocuMind and DocuMatch, developed in collaboration with cloud service providers to drive greater efficiency in our port. These are expected to accelerate certificate processing time from up to three days currently, to a few minutes for most transactions.
Two ammonia bunkering proposals by Mitsui and Fortescue-Equatorial Marine Fuels have been selected by the consortia for the next round of Request for Proposal to provide a low- or zero-carbon ammonia solution on Jurong Island for power generation and bunkering.
MPA will commit $50 million to support the implementation of the refreshed Maritime Singapore Green Initiative, to further encourage the early adoption of green fuels and technologies across the maritime industry.
Singapore will continue to strengthen international partnerships through initiatives like the Green and Digital Shipping Corridors (GDSCs) to enable the digitalisation and decarbonisation of shipping. On 9 October, MPA and the Shandong Provincial Transport Department will be signing the Singapore-Shandong GDSC at the sidelines of the 25th Singapore-Shandong Business Council co-chaired by Mr Chee Hong Tat, Minister for Transport and Second Minister for Finance, and Mr Zhou Naixiang, Governor of the Shandong Provincial Government.

Photo credit: Singapore Ministry of Transport
Published: 9 October, 2024