Singapore Plans to Shape Bunkering for World's Future
Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) introduced several new initiatives at SIBCON as part of Singapore’s continued efforts to enhance bunkering processes and prepare the bunkering industry to meet future demands.
MPA previously announced the mandatory adoption of MFM for Marine Fuel Oil (MFO) deliveries in the Port of Singapore from 1 January 2017. MPA is on track for implementation with 110 bunker tankers already approved to perform MFO deliveries through MFM in the Port of Singapore.
More than 23 bunker tankers have also been scheduled for installation and testing over the next two months. Moving ahead, MPA will put in an additional S$0.5 million to fund the test-bedding of the use of MFM for Distillates deliveries. Trials have commenced and an update will be provided in the first quarter of 2017.
With the introduction of electronic Bunker Delivery Notes (e-BDNs), important bunkering information can be transmitted almost instantaneously to both buyers and sellers.
MPA has been conducting field tests on e-BDNs which will greatly improve the productivity of the industry as processes such as invoicing and payments will become more efficient. MPA will continue to work with the industry to roll out this initiative in 2018.
MPA and Singapore LNG Corporation Pte Ltd (SLNG) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today to collaborate on an interim truck loading facility, which will be used to service LNG bunkering.
The facility will also be used to serve a variety of other industries that may require small volumes of LNG to be transported over land. MPA has committed up to approximately S$2 million to co-fund the development of this facility, which will be operationally ready by early 2017.
An international focus group was formed in 2014 to cooperate on LNG bunkering. MPA will now be expanding the original MoU, which initially comprised the ports of Singapore, Rotterdam, Antwerp and Zebrugee, to include the Port of Jacksonville, Norwegian Maritime Authority, and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Japan and the Ulsan Port Authority, Republic of Korea.
The expansion of the focus group will be formalized through another MoU signed today. This MoU will deepen cooperation and information sharing in relation to LNG bunkering.
