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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.
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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. 

Related: TFG Marine chartered barge fitted with Metcore certified mass flow metering system
Related: TFG Marine: Mandatory MFM move in Antwerp-Bruges and Rotterdam is a ‘step in the right direction’
Related: TFG Marine: All hands on deck for greater transparency in the bunkering industry

 

Photo credit: TFG Marine
Published: 10 January, 2024

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Technology

Endress+Hauser and Bunkerchain prepared for end-to-end digital transactions of e-BDN integration ops in 2025

Entities showcased their complete solution to delegates during the 23rd Singapore International Bunkering Conference and Exhibition.
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May 13, 2025

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E+H eBDN

Swiss-based mass flowmeter (MFM) manufacturer Endress+Hauser and digital bunkering solutions provider Bunkerchain is preparing their systems in advance for seamless digital bunkering transactions of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA)’s pioneering electronic bunker delivery note (e-BDN) project, learned Manifold Times.

During the 23rd Singapore International Bunkering Conference and Exhibition (SIBCON 2024), spokesmen from Endress+Hauser and Bunkerchain explained to delegates how their systems work in unison to prepare for the upgrade.

“At SIBCON 2024, we showed our digital bunkering solution together with Bunkerchain, one of our partners for e-BDN,” said Mohamed Abdenbi, Global Business Manager Solutions, Endress+Hauser.

“As soon as a bunker operation is completed, our MFM system automatically transmits ticket data to the bunker app of Bunkerchain for e-BDN documentation.

“With this set up we are ready to support end-to-end digital transactions of e-BDN in Singapore.”

According to Mr Abdenbi, full digitalisation of e-BDN implementation at Singapore port will further significantly increase the efficiency to the republic’s bunker industry due to automation and the likelihood of wrong data filled into bunker checklists being reduced to a minimum.

“Data can be easily shared between the different parties to make daily workflows more efficient. This will have a positive effect on productivity of the bunker industry,” he explained.

“We can confirm this when looking at our own Endress+Hauser paperless production processes and the response of our customers who make use of our Netilion* cloud offering.

“Inconsistent data along the different system components would raise questions and doubts.

“Therefore, we believe it is of great importances the MFM vendor offers a complete and interoperable system for data transmission to ensure necessary integrity of data to make life easy for MFM users and authorities by having a central contact.”

FMS Digital Bunkering Solution 03c page 0001

Leon Ling, CEO of Bunkerchain, echoed Mr Abdenbi’s thoughts.

“At SIBCON 2024, Bunkerchain showcased direct connectivity between Endress+Hauser’s MFM system and our e-BDN solution,” he shared.

“This setup enabled seamless data transfer from the MFM to our e-BDN system onboard vessels, even without internet connectivity. This innovation ensures critical bunker data is securely captured and processed in real-time, paving the way for full digitalisation of e-BDN implementation at Singapore port in 2025.”

Use of MFMs, combined with solutions such as e-BDN, streamline workflows by automating data capture to reduce manual errors for secured real-time data sharing among stakeholders, he noted.

These advancements enhance operational accuracy, improve compliance, and establish a robust framework for efficient and sustainable bunker operations.

Global Energy Trading Pte Ltd (GET), the trading arm of Singapore bunker supplier Global Energy Group, earlier announced the successful implementation of Bunkerchain’s e-BDN system.

During Singapore Maritime Week 2024, Bunkerchain signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with S&P Global Market Intelligence and MPA to pilot the use of digital ship identity in the republic.

*Netilion is a cloud-based IIoT ecosystem designed by Endress+Hauser for industrial processes. It connects the physical and digital worlds to send information from the field straight to the user’s phone, tablet or other device. 

Related: Global Energy Trading selects Bunkerchain e-BDN solution in Singapore
Related: SMW 2024: MPA partners with S&P Global and Bunkerchain in digital ship identity

 

Photo credit: Endress+Hauser
Published: 13 May, 2025

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Methanol

Singapore: Golden Island to start green methanol bunkering trials with IMO type 2 newbuilding

“Golden Antares” is scheduled to depart a Chinese shipyard by end April; it will lift green methanol cargo from China back to Singapore.
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April 2, 2025

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RESIZED GOLDEN ISLAND

Singapore bunker supplier Golden Island Pte Ltd is planning to start bunkering trials of green methanol with its newbuild Singapore-flagged 7,999 dwt IMO type 2 bunker tanker from July, learns Manifold Times.

“The Golden Antares is scheduled to depart a Chinese shipyard by end April,” shared Tomohiro Yamano, General Manager, Marine Fuel Department.

“We are planning for it to lift the product from Towngas (Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited) which has obtained ISCC EU and ISCC PLUS certifications for green methanol before sailing back with the cargo to Singapore for bunkering trials.”

“We are also working together with Mitsubishi Corporation to purchase green methanol from them.

“With the above steps in place, we ensure green methanol marine fuel provided by Golden Island offers Carbon Intensity (CI) savings of more than 75% when compared against the CI of Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (VLSFO) material.”

Yamano-san noted the mass flowmeter (MFM) equipped newbuilding has a 6,500 metric tonne (mt) carrying capacity for methanol.

The cargo will be deposited to a Stolthaven Singapore operated terminal prior to the start of MFM trials in July.

“Singapore’s maritime sector is rapidly evolving and improving to keep up with the times,” he said.

“In late 2023, Golden Island became the first Singapore bunker supplier to adopt 100% e-BDN operations. We were also pioneers to test B30 product in the same year.

“Now, we want to promote change towards sustainable shipping by being amongst the first bunker suppliers to offer a green methanol marine fuel package for receiving vessels lifting bunkers at the republic.”

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and Enterprise Singapore (EnterpriseSG), through the Singapore Standards Council (SSC), on 10 March published a new Technical Reference (TR) 129 on Methanol Bunkering to provide a comprehensive framework for the safe and efficient use of methanol as an alternative fuel for bunkering operations.

Yamano-san confirmed green methanol marine fuel supplied by the company will adhere to protocols set by TR 129.

MPA has also recently opened applications for licences to supply methanol as a marine fuel in Singapore. This follows the finalisation of Singapore’s methanol bunkering licensing framework and standards, which incorporated input from over 50 proposals received under MPA’s Expression of Interest (EOI) launched in December 2023, as well as methanol bunkering trials and operations conducted in Singapore since 2023.

Related: Golden Island to start methanol bunkering operations at republic by 2026
Related: Golden Island switching to 100% e-BDN operations from 1 December
Related: Golden Island begins fleetwide B30 biofuel bunker trial, starts tests with “Double Happiness”
Related: SMW 2025: MPA seeks methanol bunker supplier licence applications in Singapore
Related: SMW 2025: MPA reveals key requirements for methanol bunkering licence
Related: Singapore releases new standard on methanol bunkering, gears up for multi-fuel future
Related: MPA: Due diligence carried out prior to recent Singapore methanol bunkering pilot
Related: MPA issues EOI seeking for methanol bunker fuel suppliers in Singapore
Related: MPA receives 50 submissions for EOI to supply methanol bunker fuel in Singapore
Related: Singapore bunkering sector enters milestone with first methanol marine refuelling op
Related: First SIMOPS methanol bunkering operation completed in Singapore

 

Photo credit: Golden Island
Published: 2 April 2025

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Bunker Fuel

Global Fuel Supply launches physical bunker fuel supply operation in West Africa

GFS’ newly chartered bunker tanker “Rlo Explorer” will be stationed at Luanda anchorage in Angola; company is also deploying flowmeter technology for precise fuel measurement and rolling out e-BDN.
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4 months ago

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February 21, 2025

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bunker tanker, M/V Rlo Explorer MarineTraffic / RLO Tankers

Bunkering and marine fuel solutions provider Global Fuel Supply (GFS) on Thursday (21 February) announced its expansion in West Africa with the launch of its first physical supply operation. 

The company’s newly chartered 5,498 dwt bunker tanker, M/V Rlo Explorer, will be stationed at Luanda anchorage in Angola. 

“We see tremendous opportunity for growth and expansion in the West African market,” said Bijan Shahbaz, Managing Partner and COO of GFS, in a statement shared with Manifold Times.

“With some of the most dedicated professionals in the industry, we are fully prepared to add even more value for our customers by delivering a smooth, seamless service that sets new standards in this region.”

At under 100metre in length, GFS said M/V Rlo Explorer is ideally suited to go alongside oil rigs and platforms, while its stainless-steel tanks can be cleaned within 24 hours—ensuring maximum flexibility. 

In line with evolving operational and environmental needs, GFS is also deploying advanced flowmeter technology for precise fuel measurement and rolling out Electronic Bunker Delivery Notes (e-BDN) for streamlined, eco-friendly documentation. 

“By positioning the M/V Rlo Explorer at the heart of a major hub, GFS aims to deliver reliability, short turnaround times, and superior customer support,” it added.

 

Photo credit: MarineTraffic / RLO Tankers
Published: 21 February, 2025

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