LNG

Feb 22 (LNGJ) - Vitol Bunkers, the maritime fuelling unit of the global commodities firm, has taken delivery of the “Marine Future”, its first specialised bunker barge in Singapore, strengthening its position in Asia’s expanding biofuel bunker market. “The addition of this specialised IMO-type 2 notation bunker tanker to the V-Bunkers fleet will uniquely make it possible to supply biofuel blends including B24, B30 and up to B100,” said Vitol Bunkers. Biofuel sales in Singapore reached 520,000 tonnes in 2023, an increase on the previous year when volumes were 140,000 tonnes. 

   Built in China, the “Marine Future” is 102.6 metres in length and has the capacity to carry about 7,000 million tonnes of biofuels. “The current fleet of bunker tankers in Singapore are classified as ‘oil tankers’ and are therefore restricted to a maximum of 25 percent bio component in biofuel blends. This new bunker tanker has no such restriction, hence can deliver bunker fuels consisting of 100 percent bio component (B100),” the company said.

Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK Line), a leading Japanese shipping company and FueLNG, a Singaporean joint venture, have completed the first bunkering in Singapore of an LNG-fuelled Pure Car and Truck Carrier (PCTC) as the Asian city state increases its LNG bunkering market presence.

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has awarded a third LNG bunkering supplier licence to French energy major Total to operate in the Asian city-state supplying ship-to-ship fuel.

Dec 16 (LNGJ) - Greece-based company Probunkers has responded to the Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) Request for Proposal for new licensees to  supply liquefied natural gas in the Asian city-state port. “Our submission request for an LNG bunkering licence for the Port of Singapore supports our quest to become the first independent global LNG bunker supplier,” said Probunkers Chief Executive Alexander Prokopakis.

   “The LNG-fuelled fleet is growing and we see an increasing interest from charterers and shipowners for LNG as a marine fuel,” explained Prokopakis. “It is widely acceptable that in order to see significant development in LNG as a marine fuel changes need to be made. It is time for more commercial and transparent practices along the lines of traditional oil bunkering. Having long-term contracts and commitments was the way of doing business in the past. The industry needs to move forward,” stated the CEO.

The first Singapore LNG bunkering vessel owned by Shell Eastern Petroleum and Keppel Offshore and Marine Ltd has been launched at the Keppel Nantong Shipyard in China.