Ammonia

U-Ming Singapore and ITOCHU ink MoU to explore ammonia dual-fuel bulk carriers

MoU also outlines exploration and implementation of other maritime emission lowering solutions such as use of alternative bunker fuels like methanol and various energy saving devices.

Published

1 year ago

March 22, 2024

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U-Ming Marine Transport (S) Pte Ltd (U-Ming), a subsidiary of Taiwanese-listed U-Ming Marine Transport Corporation, on Friday (22 March) announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ITOCHU Corporation to explore discussions on jointly owning and operating ammonia dual-fuel bulk carriers.

In addition to this, U-Ming is presently undertaking feasibility studies regarding the installation of rotor sails, carbon capture system and the retrofitting of traditional oil fuel systems to methanol dual-fuel on its fleet.

The MoU signing is part of ITOCHU’s "Integrated Project”, which aims to lower greenhouse gas emissions by developing ammonia dual-fuel ships and establishing a global ammonia supply chain with industry partners.

This will further enable ITOCHU to accelerate the construction of sustainable energy systems, contribute to the realisation of a low-carbon society, and reduce the burden on the global environment.

The MoU also outlined the exploration and implementation of other maritime emission lowering solutions such as the use of alternative bunker fuels like methanol and various energy saving devices.

U-Ming currently owns and operates a diverse fleet of vessels including Capesize, Panamax, Post Panamax, Supramax, Ultramax, Cement Carriers, Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs), Very Large Ore Carriers (VLOCs) and Crew Transfer Vessels (CTVs) for offshore wind farms.

U-Ming's fleet now comprises 72 vessels with a total deadweight of 8.77 million tons. The company has subsidiaries in Singapore, Hong Kong, and Xiamen; including U-Ming Marine Offshore Company Ltd. focusing on green energy transportation.

Photo credit: Scott Graham on Unsplash
Published: 22 March 2024

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Bunker Fuel

Singapore: GCMD develops calculator to explore IMO GFI-linked pricing system

Free cost and compliance calculator has been developed by its team based on the newly approved GHG emissions pricing framework by IMO’s MPEC 83 recently.

Published

5 days ago

April 16, 2025

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Singapore: GCMD develops calculator to explore IMO GFI-linked pricing system

The Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD) on Tuesday (15 April) introduced a free cost and compliance calculator that has been developed by its team based on the newly approved greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions pricing framework by the Marine Environment Protection Committee during its 83rd session (MPEC 83).

The calculator will help maritime stakeholders explore how the two-tiered, GHG Fuel Intensity (GFI)-linked pricing system could impact operational costs.

GCMD said the buzz around International Maritime Organization's MEPC 83 and the newly approved GHG emissions pricing framework has been intense — and understandably so.

“To help make sense of it, our CEO Prof. Lynn Loo started with handwritten trajectory calculations to break down the core workings,” it said in a social media post.

“Building on that, our team has developed a simple, accessible cost and compliance calculator to help you explore how the two-tiered, GFI-linked pricing system could impact operational costs.”

The calculator is just one input—its results should be considered alongside other economic and operational factors to inform commercial decisions.

The tool covers covers heavy fuel oil (HFO), liquified natural gas (LNG), B24 biofuel, e-ammonia and bio-methanol.

“Whether you're assessing fuel options, planning newbuilds, or just trying to get a feel for what this might mean for your operations — this tool offers a useful first-cut view. For added clarity, we’ve included the workings on the side so you can trace the calculation process,” GCMD added.

Note: GCMD’s cost and compliance calculator can be found here.

Photo credit: Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation
Published: 16 April, 2025

Bunker Fuel

Singapore: Bunker fuel sales increase by 0.5% on year in March 2025

4.47 million mt of various marine fuel grades were delivered at the world’s largest bunkering port in March, up from 4.45 million mt recorded during the similar month in 2024, according to MPA data.

Published

6 days ago

April 15, 2025

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Singapore: Bunker fuel sales increase by 0.5% on year in March 2025

Sales of marine fuel at Singapore port increased by 0.5% on year in March 2025, according to Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) data.

In total, 4.47 million metric tonnes (mt) (exact 4,469,170 mt) of various marine fuel grades were delivered at the world’s largest bunkering port in March, up from 4.45 million mt (4,445,070 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 March (against on year) recorded respectively 1.62 million mt (+0.6% from 1.61 million mt), 2.33 million mt (-3.7% from 2.42 million mt), 500 mt (+100% from zero), 100 mt (-98% from 5,100 mt) and zero (from zero).

Singapore: Bunker fuel sales increase by 0.5% on year in March 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 March (against on year) recorded respectively 51,900 mt (+100% from zero), 93,700 mt (+42% from 66,000 mt), zero (from zero), zero (from zero) and zero (from zero). A new addition of biofuel blend, introduced in February this year, B100, recorded no sales in March.

LNG and methanol sales were posted respectively at 39,000 mt (+1% from 38,600) and zero (from zero).

A complete series of articles on Singapore bunker volumes by Manifold Times in 2024 can be found below:

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

Ammonia

Port of Rotterdam moves closer to ammonia bunkering after successful pilot

Trammo, OCI and James Fisher Fendercare successfully conducted an ammonia bunkering pilot between “Oceanic Moon” and “Gas Utopia” when 800 cubic meters of grey ammonia was transferred.

Published

6 days ago

April 15, 2025

Admin

Port of Rotterdam moves closer to ammonia bunkering after successful pilot

The Port of Rotterdam on Monday (14 April) said Trammo, OCI and James Fisher Fendercare successfully conducted an ammonia bunkering pilot between two vessels, Oceanic Moon and Gas Utopia, at a terminal in the port on 12 April.

The pilot involved transferring 800 cubic meters of liquid, cold ammonia at -33 degrees Celsius between two ships. The pilot used grey ammonia, which shares the same chemical properties as clean ammonia.

This took about 2.5 hours and was conducted alongside a new quay at the Maasvlakte 2 APM terminal.

“The demonstration validated the port of Rotterdam safety framework for ammonia bunkering, establishing that it is possible to do this safely and without ammonia release in the port,” it said on its website.

The pilot marked an important step in preparing the port for vessels bunkering clean ammonia.

Ammonia is a carbon-free fuel, so no CO2 is released during combustion. The first ships capable of using ammonia as a bunker fuel are expected in 2026 or 2027.

Various parties collaborated on the pilot, facilitated by the Port of Rotterdam Authority. OCI, owner and operator of the port’s ammonia terminal, partnered with Trammo, which supplied the two tankers carrying OCI’s ammonia.

James Fisher Fendercare provided equipment and expertise to ensure the safe execution of the ship-to-ship transfer at the berth location provided by APM Terminal.

Bunker barge operator Victrol shared its bunkering expertise during the preparation of the pilot. The DCMR Environmental Protection Agency, Rijnmond Safety Region (VRR), and the Joint Fire Service (GB) were involved to ensure the pilot was conducted safely and smoothly.

Rotterdam is the world’s second largest bunker port, with approximately ten million tonnes of fuel bunkered annually.

Together with all parties in the port, the Port of Rotterdam Authority aims to enable the bunkering of all alternative low-carbon fuels in the future, promoting greater sustainability for international shipping.

Looking ahead, Port of Rotterdam said clean ammonia (low carbon) is expected to play a key role in the large-scale decarbonisation of shipping. Introduction and upscaling of ammonia as a shipping fuel is also possible because the industry already produces, stores, transports and distributes ammonia to end users worldwide.

The port of Rotterdam uses the international Port Readiness Level assessment tool to prepare for all new marine fuels.

To properly prepare the port to receive and bunker ships using new fuels, various steps will be taken to ensure that all regulatory, safety, infrastructural and supply factors are in order.

The port has already fully implemented this method for LNG and, to a large degree, for methanol.

For ammonia, the pilot concludes level 6 and raises the port’s readiness to level 7, with all safety procedures ready to allow bunkering on a project basis. With this enhanced readiness, the port of Rotterdam is ensuring that it is prepared for bunkering of the first ammonia-fuelled ships.

The learnings of the pilot and the established procedures will be disseminated to the EU, other ports and relevant parties.

Photo credit: Port of Rotterdam
Published: 15 April, 2025