Fuel News

Implementation of the FuelEU Maritime regulation from 2025 presents an accountability dilemma for shipping as it is currently the Document of Compliance (DoC) holder that will be held responsible for fuel selection and could therefore face penalties - contrary to the ‘polluter pays’ principle, according to OceanScore.Shipping companies must start preparing now for the regulation as they face an August 31 deadline to submit a monitoring plan to track the fuel type and consumption for each EU voyage for each vessel as required by FuelEU…

The Russian government has approved some changes to its fuel export ban, lifting the restrictions for fuel used as bunkering for some vessels as well as diesel with high content of sulphur, a government document showed on Monday. It also lifted restrictions on the export of fuel already accepted for export by the Russian Railways and Transneft before the initial ban had been announced last week. The ban on all types of gasoline and high-quality diesel remains in place. Russia…

Rotterdam, Europe's biggest port, plans to make mass flow meters, which can measure fuel supplies more accurately, compulsory for ship refueling, a spokesperson for the port told Reuters on Thursday. The move aims to boost transparency and efficiency to avoid disputes over fuel volumes that sometimes occur during refueling, a process known as bunkering. Singapore, the world's largest bunkering hub, made mass flow meters compulsory for ship refueling in 2017 and is the only port to have done so until now.

The New York State Petroleum Business Tax (PBT), Article 13-A levies a tax on fuel consumption of commercial vessels operating on the waters of New York State. The PBT has long been a source of contention for operators of tug boats and towing vessels transiting New York State waters because of the difficulty to accurately calculate the tax due the state. This led to many long drawn out audits of vessel operators by the state, resulting in unacceptable additional taxes, interest and fines.Over the years, multiple efforts were made by industry groups to repeal the PBT legally without success.

BP and Maersk Tankers successfully completed trials using marine fuel blended with biofuel on tankers as efforts grow to tackle the shipping sector's greenhouse gas emissions.Global shipping accounts for around 3% of global carbon emissions. The sector is considered relatively hard to decarbonize because of a lack of alternatives to marine fuel.The trials were completed on two refined oil product carriers chartered to BP from Maersk Tankers - Maersk Cirrus and Maersk Navigator, BP said in a statement.Maersk Tankers is an independent company, owned by A.P.

Five vessels loaded with fuel arrived in Sudan's main port, the energy and oil ministry said on Wednesday, adding that the country's fuel reserves are sufficient.Three vessels were loaded with diesel, one with cooking gas and one with petrol, the ministry said."The supply situation is very reassuring," it said, adding that work is underway to implement Sudan's import plan for December.(Reporting by Khalid Abdelaziz Writing by Mahmoud Mourad Editing by David Goodman)

China's exports of very low-sulfur fuel oil (VLSFO) rose 31.2% in June from a year earlier to 1.66 million tonnes, General Administration of Customs data showed on Tuesday, as attractive prices drew clients from other bunker hubs. In the first half of 2021 exports of VLSFO, which has a maximum sulfur content of 0.5% to comply with emission rules set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), jumped 52.1% to 9.81 million tonnes. China's VLSFO production capacity reached around 20 million tonnes per annum as of the end of June…

Exports of gasoline and blend stocks from Asia to the United States rebounded in May from April, including two rare shipments from India, to meet rising summer demand in the west, industry sources and analysts told Reuters.Global gasoline demand growth has shifted back to the United States and Europe, where widespread COVID-19 vaccinations are spurring more travel. In contrast, fuel use in Asia outside China has slowed recently as India, Malaysia and other key fuel markets were hit by lockdowns, prompting traders to send fuel westwards.In May, traders loaded about 3.8 million barrels of gasoline and blending components from Asia, mainly South Korea and India…

Finnish maritime technology firm Wärtsilä and Grieg Edge, the innovation hub of Norwegian shipping group Grieg Star, are working on a joint project to launch an ammonia-fuelled tanker producing no greenhouse gas emissions by 2024. With Norwegian government support worth 46.3 million NOK (4.4 million EUR), the partnership aims to build what will be the world's first green ammonia fuelled tanker."The MS Green Ammonia project is the result of a Nordic industrial collaboration group founded from the Zeeds (Zero Emissions Energy Distribution at Sea) initiative…

Fueltrax, a provider of marine fuel management systems, has said that a major Nigerian vessel owner and operator for fast crew boats and security vessels has upgraded two of its onboard electronic fuel monitoring systems to Fueltrax.Fueltrax said the client opted for its solution due to standards not being met with a previous electronic fuel monitoring system (EFMS)."The new vessels coming online with Fueltrax include two fast crew boats operating in the Gulf of Guinea, Nigeria…

FUELTRAX launched the latest features of its cloud-based portal, FUELNET 'GEN-6', as its sixth major release. FUELNET delivers decision-ready reports that can be utilized to make quick decisions during operations. The company reports a +/-0.15% accuracy and remote troubleshooting available 24/7 from Houston, FUELTRAX consumption tracking provides a complete picture of operations minute-by-minute."The maritime industry remains hungry for new, smarter ways of working, especially due to the dynamic economy this year…

Finnish marine technology group Wärtsilä has said that its profit-sharing deal based on fuel savings signed two years ago with Brittany Ferries has significantly benefitted both companies. The installation of Wärtsilä's Trim and Speed energy management and optimization technology on the first vessel ‘Cap Finistere’, covered by the contract, was finalized and fully operational in March 2019. The installation was carried out by Wärtsilä Voyage. Wärtsilä says Wärtsilä Voyage is part…

Rare cargoes of diesel from China and South Korea have started to arrive in Russia due to a quirk in Russia's tax system which is making fuel shipments from abroad more profitable, data from traders and Refinitiv Eikon showed on Thursday.Because of a local tax scheme, Russian oil firms are due to make higher payments to the government despite a slump in oil prices due to excess supplies and the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic.That means the companies have little incentive to cut domestic retail prices for gasoline and diesel.But with prices lower on the global market…

The world's number two container line MSC is in talks with the United Arab Emirates after the Gulf country banned one of their vessels from entering its waters over what authorities said was a breach of tough new sulphur emissions rules for ships.This is one of the first punitive actions taken by a jurisdiction since regulations came into effect in January which make it mandatory for ships to use fuel with a sulphur content of 0.5%, down from 3.5% previously, or install devices that strip out the toxic pollutant - known as scrubbers.Ships were no longer able to even carry high sulphur fuel fro

World's largest gas shipping company BW LPG has exercised another option for the delivery and retrofitting of a further four dual-fuel LPG propulsion engines, committing to retrofit 12 of its VLGCs with LPG propulsion technology.The delivery and retrofitting of these 12 dual-fuel engines into BW LPG’s fleet will start as planned in 2020 and will be completed in the second half of 2021.The latest announcement follows BW LPG announcing back in August 2018 its initiative to deliver and retrofit four LPG dual-fuel engines in its VLGCs, and the exercising of an option on 10 February 2020 for an additional four dual-fuel engines.Anders Onarheim, BW LPG CEO said: “The Board and Management at BW LPG continue to emphasize a deep corporate commitment to sustainable development.

Japan-based shipping giant NYK has presented its concept for using ammonia as a marine fuel or zero-emission ships as part of the industry’s decarbonization drive.Ammonia does not emit carbon dioxide (CO2) when it is heated and would thus be expected to contribute to the effort to address global warming.In addition, if CO2-free hydrogen is used, zero emissions are said to be achieved. NYK is thus considering the use of ammonia as marine fuel, one of the solutions for decarbonization.The NYK Group is making efforts to create next-generation green businesses involving alternative marine fuels to realize decarbonization and the company’s basic philosophy of “Bringing value to life” and contributing to the betterment of societies.

Low-sulfur fuel sales rose sharply in Rotterdam in the last quarter leading up to the implementation of International Maritime Organisation (IMO) 0.5pc sulfur cap on 1 January.According to Port of Rotterdam, the demand for LNG, bio and low-sulfur bunkers has increased enormously in Rotterdam over the past year. Total sales in this largest European bunker port fell from 9.5 million m3 to 9 million m3.In the last quarter of 2019, sales of low-sulfur bunker oil with a maximum sulfur content of 0.5% – the so-called VLSFO, very low sulfur fuel oil – increased enormously. In December, 62 percent of the fuel oil sold was VLSFO, said Europe’s largest sea port.Over the entire last quarter, 48% of the fuel oil sold was VLSFO.

French shipping giant CMA CGM is joining forces with Energy Observer within a project focusing on testing the potential of hydrogen as a marine fuel.Energy Observer, formerly a racing catamaran, is now an experimental platform for tomorrow’s energy sources. It is sailing round the world in order to speed up development of the innovative solutions for the environment.This partnership with CMA CGM deals with the development of cleaner and more sustainable energies to eliminate CO2 emissions, greenhouse gases and air pollutants. It aims to experiment, test and develop energy solutions based on hydrogen, solar, tidal and wind power.Hydrogen is a limitless energy source that generates up to 4 times more energy than coal, 3 times more than diesel.

ABS, a global provider of classification and technical advisory services to the marine and offshore industries, has granted Approval in Principle (AIP) to Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. (KHI) for its LPG as Fuel system design.According to a press release, a dual-fuel engine capable of using both marine diesel oil and LPG as fuel, KHI claims the system simultaneously reduces fuel consumption and enables the engine to meet NOx Tier 3 regulations.“Using LPG as a fuel can lower emissions to air compared to conventional fuels, both in terms of greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants. We are proud to work with innovative partners such as KHI…

German shipping major Hapag-Lloyd announced that one of its ships recently refueled in Rotterdam with an eco-friendly biofuel, as part of its plan to reduce CO2 emissions."For the first time, the “Montreal Express” is being powered by so-called “B20” fuel, which consists of 80 percent low-sulfur fuel oil and 20 percent bio-diesel based on cooking oils and fats that had previously been used in the food service/catering industry," said a press note from the container transportation company.The biodiesel generates up to 90 percent less CO2 emissions than conventional fuels, it said.With this test, Hapag-Lloyd is taking another step towards reaching its ambitious climate-protection goals.“By the end of this year…

The Korean Register of Shipping (KR) has published important technical information on the use of ammonia as an alternative marine fuel, comparing it to other different types of carbon-neutral alternative fuels.The classification society founded in South Korea revealed in a press note that the highly topical, free guide covers the fuel's key features, industry trends and relevant technologies. Detailed guidelines and analysis examines the future outlook for ammonia, providing much needed practical information at a time when IMO compliant fuel sources are in high demand.The IMO aims to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 40 percent by 2030, and 70 percent by 2050, which reduces the viability of fossil fuels as compliance solutions in the long term.

The Nordic energy company Gasum said its LNG bunkering vessel Coralius has successfully performed its 200th ship-to-ship LNG bunkering operation.The vessel receiving the LNG fuel was Fjord Line’s MS Stavangerfjord. The bunkering took place while Stavangerfjord underwent periodical maintenance at the Fayard yard in Odense, Denmark.“We normally supply LNG to Stavangerfjord by a loading arm on a regular basis directly from our LNG plant in Risavika,” said Gunnar Helmen, Sales Manager at Gasum.“It’s great to get this opportunity to supply the cruise ferry with LNG in dock in Denmark. Having been fueled with fresh LNG, Stavangerfjord will return to her regular Stavanger-Bergen-Hirtshals route.

International Maritime Organization (IMO) Secretary-General Kitack Lim is calling for renewed cooperation from all stakeholders to tackle the urgent issues of air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from shipping at the World Economic Forum in Davos.Lim said: "When temperature records are routinely broken, icecaps are melting and some parts of the world are flooding while others are burning, there can be little doubt that addressing climate change must be humankind's major priority."  IMO's strategy is to reduce sector-wide emissions by at least 50% by 2050. To deliver this, significant numbers of zero-carbon ships, or ships that can be easily adapted to use low or zero carbon fuels later in their life…