Marine Fuel News

Mining giant Rio Tinto has entered an agreement with the oil major BP to start a one-year biofuel trial to reduce carbon emissions from Rio Tinto’s marine fleet. Under the trial, BP is supplying Rio Tinto with marine biofuel for approximately 12 months. The fuel will be trialed on Rio Tinto’s RTM Tasman bulk carrier on a mix of Transatlantic and Atlantic-Pacific routes, in what has been described as "one of the longest-duration marine biofuel trials to date." "Sustainable biofuels…

A major bunker fuel contamination has affected at least 14 shipping vessels that received high sulfur fuel oil (HSFO) from Singapore, fuel, and oil testing firm Veritas Petroleum Services (VPS) said.The company said an increasing number of ships were getting affected by the tainted bunker fuel after 34 vessels were identified to have received HSFO deliveries from two unnamed Singapore suppliers over the last two months that were contaminated with up to 2,000 parts per million…

China more than halved the volume of export quotas for refined fuel, predominantly gasoline, diesel and aviation fuel, under the first allotment for 2022, while raising the allowances for low-sulphur fuel oil by 30%, industry sources said on Tuesday.The deep cuts to refined fuel, largely expected by the market, was in line with the Chinese government's recent policy to curb excessive domestic refinery production amid a broad plan to reduce carbon emissions, the sources said.Quotas for refined fuel exports totalled 13 million tonnes under the batch…

ExxonMobil has started barge deliveries of two grades of IMO-compliant, low-sulfur marine fuel, namely, DMA 0.001%S [Ultra Low Sulfur Marine Diesel] and DMB 0.01%S [Low Sulfur Marine Diesel] at the Port of Tauranga, New Zealand, enhancing its offer in the Asia Pacific region.The arrival of MT Kormako, the first and only bunker barge in Port of Tauranga, enhances ExxonMobil’s bunkering operation at the Port of Tauranga as fuel deliveries are now available for vessels berthed at Sulfur Point along with land-based refuelling for those moored at the port.

Japan-based Itochu Corporation has this week formed a joint study framework of 23 companies and organizations with the objective of collaboratively discussing common issues in pursuit of the utilization of ammonia as an alternative marine fuel, Bureau Veritas said Friday.The aim of the Joint Study Framework is to verify and organize common issues regarding the use of ammonia as a maritime fuel, which is a new challenge for maritime stakeholders. Also, BV said this was a step toward…

Ship Carbon Recycling Working Group of Japan's Carbon Capture & Reuse Study Group has said that carbon recycled methane produced by methanation technology can be recognized as zero-emission ship fuel.Methanation has been described as a technology for synthesizing methane, the main component in natural gas, by causing a chemical reaction between hydrogen and CO2 in a reactor vessel filled with a catalyst.It uses emitted CO2 separated and captured from industrial facilities. As the CO2 generated when combusting synthesized methane is considered to be offset by the separated and captured CO2…

Global demand for oil-based marine fuels is set to fall in the next three decades as stricter carbon emissions rules for the shipping industry kick in and alternative fuel use climbs, consultancy Wood Mackenzie said on Friday.The U.N.'s International Maritime Organization (IMO) is set to formally adopt energy efficiency regulations in June that aim to reduce the carbon footprint of new and existing ships by 40% by 2030 compared with 2008 levels.By 2050 the IMO aims to reduce the…

China's Shanghai International Energy Exchange (INE) said on Thursday it had signed an agreement with PetroChina International Co Ltd to cooperate on the overseas delivery for its low-sulfur fuel oil futures contract.Both parties have reached a consensus on cross-border overseas delivery for the marine oil and see the move as an "important foundation" for China's first futures delivery "going global", Shanghai Futures Exchange-owned INE said in a statement.This would be the first time a Chinese futures contract would be deliverable outside of China, which could boost the liquidity and increase

The United Nations shipping agency on Friday approved a ban on the use of heavy fuel oil in the Arctic region in a move criticized by green groups which said loopholes will allow many vessels to keep sailing without enough regulatory control.Antarctic waters are protected by stringent regulations, including a ban on heavy oil fuel (HFO) adopted in 2011, even though no cargo moves through the turbulent southern waters. For the Arctic, the rules have been looser.In a virtual session…

Sales of marine fuel from the Chinese port of Zhoushan, the country's top supplier of shipping fuel, in the first nine months of 2020 rose nearly 18% from a year earlier, a local government official said on Wednesday.Zhoushan supplied 3.26 million tonnes of bonded marine fuel from January to September, the official said, declining to be identified since he is not a spokesman.China aims to build Zhoushan, an archipelago city in east China's Zhejiang province, into a regional ship fuel hub to rival Singapore as the world's largest shipping, or bunker, fuel center.But marine fuel demand took a hi

The number of ships fueled by liquefied natural gas (LNG) is expected to more than double by 2030, driven by the shipping industry's desire to cut emissions, a senior executive at Malaysia's Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) said on Wednesday.Currently, less than 400 out of a total of more than 80,000 registered ships, run on LNG as fuel source. This number could increase to 1,000 vessels globally by 2030, said Mohd Rafe Mohamed Ramli, head of global LNG bunkering at Petronas Marine.The shipping industry has been under pressure to reduce carbon emissions…

An Indian court has issued a second arrest warrant for a marine refueling tanker owned by troubled UAE oil trader GP Global after it failed to make payments to its ship manager, court documents showed.On Sept. 10, the High Court of the western Indian state of Gujrat granted the vessel manager's, Singapore-based Celestial Ship Management Pte Ltd, a request to arrest the GP B3 bunker tanker for unpaid dues, according to the court documents seen by Reuters.On the previous day, the same court granted a request by the National Bank of Fujairah (NBF) to arrest the same GP Global-owned bunker tanker after the oil trader defaulted on a loan payment.Celestial…

Global demand for marine fuels is expected to fall by up to 17% due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on world trade, setting the stage for more consolidation among bunker suppliers, an industry executive told a conference on Wednesday.Banks scaled back on their commodities trade finance after the coronavirus crisis led to defaults by some trading houses and exposed a series of frauds, leaving small and medium-sized firms most exposed.Unni Einemo, director of the International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA), said firms were contending with low demand, low margins, ample supplies, i

Global supply of fuel oil, used by ships and power plants, is expected to grow in the third quarter, depressing the marine fuel market as shipping demand remains weak, analysts and trade sources said.Third-quarter supply is estimated to rise by 620,000 barrels per day (bpd) from the second quarter as China and Brazil increase production, according to consultancy Energy Aspects.This comes as inventories across key marine refueling hubs recently reached all-time highs, depressing bunker fuel prices and refiners' margins and dashing hopes for a profitable year for sellers of low sulfur fuel that

Seaspan Ship Management selected Alfa Laval to help resolve steam balance and redundancy issues connected to sulfur-compliant fuels. The solution – an integrated steam boiler plant comprising oil-fired steam production, waste heat recovery, advanced control and connectivity – will be implemented on eight Seaspan-owned large container ships.Prior to the IMO global sulfur cap’s entry into force, Seaspan Ship Management made the decision to work with sulfur-compliant fuels on its container vessels.

ABS has published the latest trends and projections on carbon-reduction strategies for shipping as the industry looks to meet decarbonization ambitions.Setting the Course to Low Carbon Shipping examines new fuels, technologies and operational measures and matches that with forecasts for the world’s key trade lanes to envision what shipping may look like in 2030 and 2050.The second of two ‘Outlook’ documents – the first was published in June 2019 – it applies what ABS currently…

Vitol Marine Fuels Pte Ltd, a subsidiary of the Vitol Group, has acquired 100% of Singapore-based bunkering specialist Sinanju Tankers Holdings.The Singapore Bunkering license holding entity has been renamed Vitol Bunkers (S) Pte Ltd and from 1st April 2020 all bunker deliveries will be carried out by Vitol Bunkers (S) Pte Ltd.Through the transaction, Vitol has acquired an expert bunker tanker manager and operator with extensive experience of physical bunker supplies in the port of Singapore…

Britain has suspended checks on ships for compliance with low sulphur fuel regulations as part of wider measures that cut back on inspections to reduce the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on supply chains, the coastguard authority said on Friday.The coronavirus has created growing logistical problems for freight as countries try to keep goods moving despite lockdown in many parts of the world.At the start of the year, regulations came into effect - known as MARPOL Annex VI - that make it mandatory for ships to use fuel with a sulphur content of 0.5%…

Total Lubmarine’s Talusia Universal (BN57) has received a No Objection Letter (NOL) from WinGD for all fuels (liquid and gas) with a sulphur content 0.00%S - 1.50%S.The NOL was awarded with no restrictions following the successful completion of two rigorous tests carried out on two different vessels fitted with W6X72 engines.The tests were conducted on split engines comparing Talusia Universal with a BN40 reference Cylinder Lube Oil (CLO). One test carried out with compliant VLSFO <0.5%S, the other one with compliant ULSFO <0.1%S for 2350 and 2000 running hours respectively.“Following both tests, Talusia Universal performed significantly better than the reference CLO for deposit control and general piston cleanliness…

ClassNK granted an Approval in Principle (AiP) based on its Rule Part N which adopts IGC Code and its Guidelines for Ships Using Low-Flashpoint Fuels to Daihatsu Diesel for their concept design of a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) reformed gas fueled coastal LPG carrier developed in cooperation with Iino Gas Transport, Osaka Gas, Izumi Steel Works, and Miura Shipbuilding in terms of safety assessments.The vessel is designed to be equipped with an LPG reformer developed jointly by Daihatsu Diesel and Osaka Gas, and a dual fuel engine developed by Daihatsu Diesel.

The century-old Amsterdam canal boat Gerarda Johanna looks like a classic with wood paneling, but beneath its floorboards lies a high-tech underbelly: rows of lithium ion batteries, 66 in all, with an electric drive train powering its propeller.The boat is part of a push by Amsterdam's new Green Party mayor to ban diesel engines from the center's ancient canals by 2025, helping the city's efforts to combat climate change.The transition among commercial vessels is well underway, with 75% of the 550 on the city's water qualifying as emissions free, according to city spokesman Wouter Keuning.Canal boats were a natural fit to go first. They are Amsterdam's most popular tourist attraction…

KPI Bridge Oil announced it has agreed to acquire OceanConnect Marine, creating one of the largest independent marine fuels service and solutions providers in the worldSubject to the receipt of regulatory approval, the two companies will merge to form a new brand and entity, KPI OceanConnect, with a team of 170-strong operating across 15 locations globally.It is envisaged that KPI OceanConnect will be led by CEO Søren Høll – KPI Bridge Oil’s current CEO - supported by an experienced and diverse management team stemming from both organizations.Søren Høll…

Lubricating duel-fuel auxiliary engines: a practical approachChevron Marine has released the latest in a series of white papers focusing on innovations and developments impacting the fast-changing shipping industry.Click Here to Download the Whitepaper.‘Lubricating dual-fuel auxiliary engines: a practical approach’ explores the unique challenge of using engines that run regularly on either fuel oils or LNG. Around three quarters of ships using LNG as fuel have dual-fuel, four-stroke engines.