Marina Offshore to retrofit fleet for biofuel use

Marina Offshore and Bureau Veritas have passed a milestone in sustainable towage in Singapore, with the first tugboat in the country receiving a Biofuel Ready notation from classification society Bureau Veritas. 2012-built harbour tugboat Marina Zanite is ready to use B100 biofuel for handling, towing and berthing ships in Singapore.

This 30-m tug, with a beam of 9 m, underwent a retrofitting procedure to enable more sustainable operations as part of Marina Offshore’s efforts to decarbonise its fleet. Bureau Veritas says this project involved modifying a fuel tank and training crew to use biofuel.

“We supported Marina Offshore in achieving this significant sustainability milestone,” says Bureau Veritas executive vice president for marine and offshore Matthieu de Tugny.

“The Biofuel Ready notation awarded to Marina Zanite demonstrates how existing vessels can be retrofitted to meet future fuel requirements,” he tells Riviera.  

“This project reflects Bureau Veritas’ commitment to enabling practical, innovative pathways for maritime decarbonisation through strong industry collaboration.”

As a public licensed tug provider under the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), Marina Offshore is advancing the sustainability of the harbour craft industry while maintaining safety and reducing emissions.  

In 2024, Marina Offshore identified B100 biofuel as a viable pathway to extend the service life of its fleet beyond 2030 and began engaging key stakeholders. Marina Offshore then retrofitted Marina Zanite to the requirements and verification of Bureau Veritas.  

Marina Offshore says it will also apply for the Biofuel Ready notation for its upcoming newbuilds being constructed in southeast Asia.

“We believe size should never limit ambition,” says Marina Offshore head of marketing Brian Lim. “With the support of partners like Bureau Veritas, we are building confidence, managing risks, and taking meaningful steps towards cleaner harbour operations.”

Singapore has become a major hub for marine biofuels for vessels using its harbours and terminals. In 2024, its biofuel bunker sales reached around 880,000 tonnes, compared with 520,000 tonnes in 2023.

“Meaningful collaborations empower smaller operators like us to contribute towards MPA’s 2030 decarbonisation targets while driving sustainable innovation in harbour towage operations,” says Mr Lim. “Together, we are making the decarbonisation of our 25-tug fleet an achievable reality.”

Also making this ambition a reality is the availability of bunker barges and tankers to deliver marine biofuel blends to vessels. Since March 2025, the MPA has licensed conventional bunker tankers to carry and deliver up to B30 in the Port of Singapore without requiring separate approval. For blends above B30, suppliers are required to seek approval from the MPA before conducting pilot programmes or commercial deliveries. This aligns with Singapore’s strategy to increase the use of biodiesel and enhance energy security.

In Indonesia, tugs and towboats are adopting biofuels, particularly palm oil-based biodiesel as mandated by government policies promoting using the country’s abundant palm oil resources and reducing its reliance on fossil fuels.

Sinarmas LDA Maritime (SLM) is one of many owners that have switched from diesel to a biofuel blend for its fleet. SLM chief executive Matthieu Lavoine says all its tugs are powered by a blend of 60% diesel and 40% biofuel as mandated by the Indonesian government. He says there is “good availability of biofuels, even in remote locations in Indonesia.”

Biofuels are used on existing vessels and on SLM’s newbuilds, of which the latest, SLM Herakles 2, was delivered to the owner at Tuong Aik Shipyard, in Sibu, Malaysia, on 5 August 2025. SLM celebrated the delivery of the first of these newbuilds, SLM Herakles 1, on 25 June 2025 at the shipyard in Sarawak. Four similar tugboats are under construction or being commissioned ready for delivery at the same shipyard.