Port of Singapore gears up for multi-fuel future of 2030

First LNG-fuelled PCTC bunkered

In March, NYK Line and FueLNG, a joint venture between Keppel Offshore & Marine and Shell Eastern Petroleum, completed the first bunkering of an LNG-fuelled pure car and truck carrier (PCTC) vessel in Singapore. FueLNG, along with Pavilion Energy and TotalEnergies Marine Fuels, are licensed suppliers of LNG bunker fuels at the port.

The milestone STS bunkering of Jasmine Leader was performed by 7,500-m³ FueLNG Bellina and carried out in accordance with Singapore’s Technical Reference 56 for LNG Bunkering, a key part of the MPA’s framework to ensure safe, reliable and transparent LNG bunkering operations in Singapore. 

Second LNG bunker vessel 
The port’s second and largest LNG bunker vessel (LNGBV) Brassavola is expected to begin operations in Q1 2023, following its naming in October by Pavilion Energy and Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) at Sembcorp Marine.

Owner Indah Singa Maritime, a subsidiary of MOL, has chartered the LNG bunker vessel to Pavilion Energy, and TotalEnergies Marine Fuels will use Brassavola to supply LNG to its customers.

With a capacity of 12,000 m³, Brassavola will be the country’s largest LNG bunker vessel. The LNGBV has two GTT Mark III Flex membrane tanks which help lower internal pressure, temperature and boil-off rate, providing greater tank durability, safer fuel transfer operations and reduced cargo loss through evaporation.

The two membrane tanks allow the vessel to carry more cargo and consume less fuel during transport. Brassavola features a loading and bunkering rate of up to 2,000 m³ per hour, mass flow metering and online gas chromatograph systems offering faster bunkering turnovers.

Pavilion Energy Group chief executive Alan Heng says, “As the homegrown global energy merchant, we will advance with Singapore to achieve IMO’s 2030 target to lower carbon emissions and build a cleaner future for generations to come.”

To strength its global LNG bunkering capability at the world’s top three bunkering regions, Pavilion Energy signed a heads of agreement (HoA) in November with Gasum and CNOOC Gas and Power Group. Under the HoA, the tripartite partnership will collaborate on strengthening a global LNG bunker supply network in Singapore, northwest Europe – including Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Antwerp – and at the Chinese ports of Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Ningbo. 
First methanol bunkering vessel 
Methanol will also be available in the port thanks to a new bunkering vessel that will be delivered Q4 2023. Singapore’s Global Energy Trading (GET), a bunker supplier licensed by the MPA, and a sister company Stellar Ship Management Service, signed a shipbuilding contract with Japan’s Sasaki Shipbuilding to construct the port’s first dedicated methanol bunkering vessel. The Japanese small tanker and gas carrier specialist will construct a 4,000-dwt IMO Type 2 chemical and oil tanker to Bureau Veritas class.

GET, which also holds a bunker supplier licence in the UAE, provides a full range of marine fuels which will soon include biofuel (beyond Bio25) and methanol in 2024.

Global Energy Group managing director Loh Hong Leong said the newbuild will “pave the way for the next generation of a more versatile bunkering tanker.”

Stellar Shipmanagement general manager Kelvin Kang said, “Methanol as bunker fuel will add a new dimension to the bunkering industry in Singapore, we are pleased to work with authorities, BV and relevant industry experts to develop methanol bunkering procedures and standards for safe bunkering and STS operations.” 
Hydrogen and ammonia 
In December, the Singapore’s Energy Market Authority and MPA issued an expression of interest (EOI) to build, own and operate low- or zero-carbon power generation and bunkering solutions in Jurong Island.

Through the EOI, the Singapore governmental agencies want to explore the use of hydrogen and ammonia for power generation, alongside other low-carbon alternatives such as electricity imports and domestic renewable energy sources. Low- or zero-carbon ammonia may also have multiple end-use pathways for power generation and bunkering.

MPA chief executive Teo Eng Dih said, “MPA hopes to partner with those who are committed to building up the global supply chain for low or zero-carbon fuels, including ammonia, with Singapore as a key bunkering hub.”

Parties interested in responding to the EOI have until 30 April 2023 to submit their proposals.

Riviera Maritime Media’s Maritime Decarbonisation Conference, Asia will be held 19-21 April 2023 in Singapore. Use this link for further information and to register your interest