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Exclusive: Fratelli Cosulich in discussions with international banks for second LNG bunker tanker order

‘Maybe there is an opportunity to deploy the second LNG bunker tanker in Singapore,” Timothy Cosulich, CEO and Board Member of Fratelli Cosulich, tells Singapore bunkering publication Manifold Times.
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Genoa-based international shipping, shipments and logistics company Fratelli Cosulich Group is in discussions with international banks for a second liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunker tanker order, learns Singapore bunkering publication Manifold Times.

Fratelli Cosulich on 10 May officially placed an order for the construction of its first LNG bunkering vessel; a 5,300 dwt newbuilding built at the CIMC SOE shipyard in China capable of transporting over 8,000 m3 of LNG and 500 m3 of MGO for bunkering.

The USD 45 million order from the shipyard comes with an option for another sistership which Fratelli Cosulich is keen to exercise, shares Timothy Cosulich, CEO and Board Member of Fratelli Cosulich.

“This is one of the biggest investments we have ever done. Being an Italian company we had many Italian banks keen on financing this deal [for the first order] and we were positively impressed by the key interest and financial support we received from these banks,” he says.

“Further, we managed to get a subsidy from the European Union for this investment which they consider to be important and strategic from an environmental point of view. We are heartened to know there are government institutions supporting our project.

“Now, the shipyard has offered us an option to order an additional LNG bunker tanker. We are in discussions with international banks to finance this [second] order.”

Fratelli Cosulich’s first LNG bunkering tanker will be deployed in the Mediterranean due to the commercial rationale that the region will be a good market for bunkering passenger vessels – which are increasingly adopting the use of LNG as a marine fuel.

“The order book for newbuildings indicates that 25-30% of vessels on order are now either dual-fuelled or LNG-ready so clearly there is a real interest in LNG. These orders are mostly containerships, large tankers, and cruise/passenger vessels so there is already a market,” he explains.

The location for the company’s second LNG bunkering tanker, however, is still undecided, according to Cosulich.

“We are evaluating different options for the second LNG bunkering tanker. We know there is demand in Northern Europe,” he reveals.

“On the other hand, we know the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore has been issuing additional bunkering licences for LNG. With the growing number of LNG bunker suppliers, we also expect growing demand; maybe there is an opportunity to deploy the second LNG bunker tanker in Singapore.

“We are an Italian family business, but Singapore is clearly our second home. We have been here for more than 30 years since the 1980’s and we will be happy to increase our presence at the Republic.”

Cosulich says his company was fortunate to have accumulated experience in the handling of LNG since 15 years ago, when the firm took over the technical management of the FSRU Toscana situated off the coast of Tuscany.

As such, Fratelli Cosulich was able to utilise this knowhow into writing their own specifications for the recently ordered LNG bunkering vessel.

While acknowledging that there are short-term and long-term solutions available to help shipping achieve decarbonisation, Cosulich believes LNG is the first step in helping the maritime sector meet its sustainability goals.

“Some companies focus on investing in long-term solutions such as hydrogen, ammonia, methanol, batteries and I don’t think this is wrong, but these solutions are not available in the short-term,” he notes.

“We cannot wait until those solutions are available. We need to start doing something and the only available solution at scale right now, allowing for significant emissions reductions, is LNG.

“We know LNG itself is a transition fuel which might have a 20-year lifespan and if we consider bio LNG that life-span might be even longer. In the meantime, we can significantly reduce emissions in the short term with LNG – that’s why we decided to go for it.”

Moving forward, Cosulich encouraged players to take action in helping shipping achieve its decarbonisation goal.

“In shipping, most of all as an industry spend 5-10 years talking about decarbonisation and the problem is we specifically spend time talking instead of doing,” he states.

“So, I think it is important we as an industry get started doing rather than just talking about it at conferences.”

Related: Fratelli Cosulich orders USD 45 million LNG bunkering vessel for Mediterranean Sea ops

 

Photo credit: Fratelli Cosulich
Published: 21 May, 2021

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Biofuel

BHP and GCMD trial multi-feedstock B100 bio bunker fuel on bulk carrier

Bio-blend in the BHP and GCMD pilot is being used on a BHP-chartered bulk carrier “Berge Lyngor”, which was bunkered in Singapore in early May.

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BHP and GCMD trial multi-feedstock B100 bio bunker fuel on bulk carrier

BHP and the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD) on Wednesday (3 June) said they have blended biofuels from two distinct feedstocks—used cooking oil and waste animal fats —and introduced the lower-emissions marine fuel into a BHP-chartered bulk carrier as part of a pilot project.

The bio-blend in the BHP and GCMD pilot is being used on a BHP-chartered bulk carrier Berge Lyngor, owned and operated by Berge Bulk, transporting BHP iron ore from Western Australia to China. When run on bio-blend, the vessel has the potential to reduce well-to-wake greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 79 per cent per voyage compared to sailing on very low sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO).

The vessel bunkered in Singapore in early May with a B100 bio-blend comprising 50 percent tallow-derived biodiesel, sourced and supplied by HAMR Energy, and 50 per cent used cooking oil (UCOME) supplied by Mitsui & Co Energy Trading Singapore (METS).

Mitsui also blended the fuel and Dan-Bunkering coordinated and executed the bunkering operation, which was performed by Global Energy’s barge MT Maple.

The BHP and GCMD pilot will assess how biofuels from multiple feedstocks can be blended, handled, and introduced under real-world operating conditions using existing used cooking oil bunkering infrastructure.

At the same time, insights from this pilot will help identify solutions to challenges related to fuel quality, handling, traceability, and onboard vessel performance.

Biofuels for global shipping today rely heavily on used cooking oil – a feedstock whose availability is approaching its projected limits. Biofuel from waste animal fats presents a promising option to expand the supply of lower-emissions marine fuels.

The outcomes of the pilot are expected to shed light on the practical steps to integrate biofuel blends from different feedstocks into existing supply chains. The diversity of biofuels will provide shipowners and operators with greater flexibility to optimise fuel procurement based on cost, availability, and lifecycle emissions performance.

Biofuels derived from different feedstocks can exhibit varying properties that may impact operations, including potential corrosion from oxidation, fuel system clogging caused by wax formation, which this pilot aims to assess.

The pilot will trace and verify the biofuel blend’s integrity aimed at bolstering confidence in emissions reductions reporting. The pilot will also provide insights into how robust tracing can support future marine fuel supply chains where biofuels from multiple feedstocks with varying lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions footprints are blended together.

This project is co-funded by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore under the Maritime Innovation and Technology Fund (MINT).

 

Photo credit: Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation
Published: 3 June, 2026

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Biofuel

NYK starts one-year B100 bio bunker fuel trial on car carrier

In this trial, NYK will operate a car carrier continuously on B100 for one year to evaluate the impact on engines, fuel supply systems, and operational practices.
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June 3, 2026

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NYK starts one-year B100 bio bunker fuel trial on car carrier

Japanese shipping firm NYK on Tuesday (2 June) said it has commenced a one-year long-term trial involving the continuous use of 100% biofuel (B100) on an NYK-operated car carrier. 

In this trial, NYK will operate a car carrier continuously on B100 for one year to evaluate the impact on engines, fuel supply systems, and operational practices. High-purity biofuels such as B100 are known to be susceptible to degradation from oxygen, light, and heat, raising concerns about the stability of such fuels during long-term use.

In this trial, the biofuel primarily comprises FAME (Fatty Acid Methyl Ester) derived from used cooking oil and similar feedstocks.

The initiative is designed to evaluate the fuel’s effects on the vessel’s equipment and verify operational safety under real-world conditions. 

Through this effort, NYK seeks to accumulate technical expertise that will support the broader use of high-purity biofuels and further accelerate efforts to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

NYK has been advancing the use of biofuels through various initiatives. In 2024, the company conducted a trial using biofuel blend B24 and subsequently expanded practical usage to B30. However, the company said there remains limited global experience with the long-term continuous use of B100.

“By collecting long-term operational data through this trial, NYK aims to accumulate valuable technical insights to support both the safe operation of vessels and the wider adoption of high-purity biofuels,” it said. 

 

Photo credit: NYK
Published: 3 June, 2026

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Ammonia

AM Green plans to build green ammonia plant at Indian port

Initiative also includes development of green ammonia handling, storage and bunkering infrastructure, pilot bunkering operations, safety procedures and training programmes, says VOC Port Authority.

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June 3, 2026

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VO Chidambaranar (VOC) Port Authority on Friday (29 May) said it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with India’s ammonia producer AM Green Ammonia to collaborate in the development of a green ammonia production plant.

The plant will have a capacity of one million tonnes per annum (MTPA) at Tuticorin.

The initiative also includes development of green ammonia handling, storage and bunkering infrastructure, pilot bunkering operations, safety procedures and training programmes. 

The project is expected to support the development of green fuel corridors connecting VOC Port with major ports in Europe and Asia, thereby strengthening India’s position in the global green fuels value chain.

VOC Port also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bureau Veritas (India) Pvt. Ltd., to collaborate on Green Port certification, emissions accounting, ESG reporting, safety validation, development of green bunkering practices, and establishment of a Centre of Excellence for green fuels and sustainability.

The port also plans for an upcoming 750 m³ green methanol bunkering facility.

 

Photo credit: Naveed Ahmed on Unsplash
Published: 3 June, 2026

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