As the world’s largest bunkering hub, the Port of Singapore must prepare to handle LNG, biofuels, ammonia, hydrogen and methanol alongside traditional fuels to underpin shipping’s decarbonisation
As shipping’s largest refuelling hub, the Port of Singapore is preparing for a multi-fuel future that will require storing and bunkering a variety of low- and zero-carbon fuels by 2030. With shipowners weighing the use of LNG, biofuels, ammonia, methanol and hydrogen as potential alternative fuels for decarbonisation, the port is ramping up efforts to make the fuels available alongside traditional marine fuels.
Currently available alternative fuels LNG and biofuel were both highlighted by Singapore’s Senior Minister of State Finance & Transport Chee Hong Tat during a speech to maritime leaders at the Singapore Maritime Foundation New Year’s Conversations in January.
“Singapore has made progress in supplying alternative fuels, such as biofuels, to support maritime decarbonisation,” said Mr Chee Hong Tat. “140,000 tonnes of biofuel blends were supplied across more than 90 biofuel bunkering operations.” The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has also developed a provisional biofuel standard on the specifications of marine biofuel for blends up to B50.
Because they are drop-in fuels, biofuels are seen as an attractive alternative fuel to aid shipping’s decarbonisation ambitions, but more knowledge is required regarding quality, shelf life, engine compatibility and price.
This had led to numerous biofuel trials, including one involving the Hapag-Lloyd container ship Afif, which was bunkered with 2,000 tonnes of B24 biofuel supplied by TotalEnergies Marine Fuels at the Port of Singapore in January. Based on a well-to-wake assessment, this B24 biofuel blend is anticipated to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20%, as compared with conventional fuel oil.
Overall, total bunker sales of marine fuels at the port declined by 4.3% year-on-year in 2022 to 47.9M tonnes because of supply chain disruptions caused by the Russia-Ukraine war and higher bunker prices globally, said the Minister.
However, Mr Chee noted, “Bunker sales in Singapore have since recovered with a rise in sales volume by 9.5% compared with the first half of 2022.” He said the port conducted 15 ship-to-ship LNG bunkering operations in 2022.
LNG bunker sales slumped drastically in 2022 due to high prices. The port had bunker sales of just 16 tonnes in 2022 — less than one-third of the 50 tonnes it sold in 2021.
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
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