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SIBCON 2022 Interview: MFMs relevant for custody transfer of future liquid-based marine fuels, confirms Endress+Hauser

‘MFMs will continue to have a place within the bunkering sector even when the shipping industry continues to adopt new types of marine fuels, such as LNG, biofuel, methanol, ammonia and hydrogen,’ states spokesman.

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Sibcon 2020 interview EH MFM

The following interview is part of event coverage for the upcoming Singapore International Bunkering Conference and Exhibition (SIBCON) 2022 where Manifold Times is an official media partner:

Mass flowmeters (MFMs) will continue to remain as the premier choice for supporting the custody transfer of future liquid-based bunker fuels, states the Business Process Consultant – Bunkering & Fuel Supply Chain of MFM manufacturer Endress+Hauser.

“Alternative marine fuels will be amongst key solutions in helping the global merchant fleet achieve International Maritime Organization (IMO)’s decarbonisation goals by 2030 and 2050,” states Mohamed Abdenbi.

“MFMs will continue to have a place within the bunkering sector even when the shipping industry adopts new types of bunker fuels, such as liquified natural gas (LNG), biofuel, methanol, ammonia and hydrogen, heading into the future.

“Even now, Coriolis-based MFMs are being used to support custody transfer operations of these fuels.”

IMO 2030 – Liquified Natural Gas and Biofuels

Based on current industry pilots and feasibility studies, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) believes LNG and biofuels to be the likely interim or transitional fuels used by the shipping industry to meet IMO targets in the near term.

Abdenbi was keen to share LNG bunker suppliers in the Asia Region, have installed a full Endress+Hauser system onboard their LNG bunker tankers. 

“Typically, LNG bunkering operations require the bunker stem to be calculated in Metric Million British Thermal Unit (MMBtu) or Giga Joule (GJ),” he explains. 

“This is done through the combined measurements from an Endress+Hauser MFM [measuring mass] and Raman spectroscopy analyser (measuring LNG composition). Methane Number is also derived from these 2-measurement methods in accordance with the TR 56: 2020 LNG Bunkering standard developed by Singapore.

“Both figures are captured through our bunkering computer which accurately calculates the total MMBtu delivered during the bunkering operation while also accounting for boil-off gas (BOG).”

“Simply put, with the exception of an LNG insulation kit, these MFMs installed onboard LNG bunker barges are identical with those currently used by Singapore’s bunkering sector.”

MFMs measuring biofuels have meanwhile been used by the palm oil industry for custody measurement over many years, adds Abdenbi.

“The same MFM systems being used by Singapore players to deliver VLSFO and MGO can also be utilised to measure biofuels,” he highlights.

“A fine tuning of the firmware of MFM-equipped bunker tankers delivering VLSFOs will be needed due to the difference in viscosity, while MFMs currently configured for MGO deliveries need not undergo any modification.

“In fact, the Custody Transfer Certificate issued by NMi already covers custody transfer of biofuels for all bunkering MFMs installed onboard the republic’s bunker tankers.” 

IMO 2050 – Ammonia and Hydrogen

Though a distance away, Abdenbi was quick to point out several Singapore players being in talks with Endress+Hauser regarding the custody transfer of ammonia as a bunker fuel.

“There are questions at moment whether to use only MFMs alone or supplement them with additional equipment such as the Raman spectroscopy analyser to measure other parameters,” shares Abdenbi.

“What we currently know is vessels used for LNG bunkering can be easily converted to deliver ammonia as a marine fuel due to the difference between the storage temperature of LNG [-160°C] and ammonia [-33°C].

“We will be ready to support the bunkering industry if it heads in that direction, which could come much earlier than we think.”

The conversion of LNG bunker tankers to store and deliver hydrogen, however, will be a challenge due to the product’s storage temperature of -252.8°C.

“We currently supply quite a lot of smaller MFMs in hydrogen applications, but none so far for bunkering purposes,” says Abdenbi.

“Hydrogen is well positioned to be an important fuel to support decarbonisation. As such, the measurement of hydrogen is a big topic for Endress+Hauser and studies are still being conducted.

“Be it LNG, biofuels, ammonia or hydrogen, we are certain MFMs have a part to play in supporting shipping’s decarbonised future.”

A list of other interviews conducted by Singapore bunkering publication Manifold Times on occasion of SIBCON 2022 are as follows:

Related: SIBCON 2022 Interview: Digitalisation in bunkering ops, can lower costs and enable decarbonisation, says StormGeo
Related: SIBCON 2022 Interview: Co-Convenors offer insights into Singapore’s upcoming Digital Bunker Document Standard
Related: SIBCON 2022 Interview: MFMs relevant for custody transfer of future liquid-based marine fuels, confirms Endress+Hauser
Related: SIBCON 2022 Interview: Clyde & Co discusses handling of bunker fuel quality disputes, alt fuels contracts
Related: SIBCON 2022 Interview: Singapore Bunkering TC Chairman shares republic’s direction on future marine fuels

 

Photo credit: Manifold Times
Published: 28 September, 2022

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LNG Bunkering

Shell expands LNG bunkering footprint in Spain with Valencia

As one of the region’s key maritime hubs, the company said Valencia expands the options available to shipowners seeking LNG supply along major shipping routes.

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Shell expands LNG bunkering footprint in Spain with Valencia

British oil giant Shell on Thursday (13 August) said Valencia has joined its growing network of bunkering locations, making LNG available as a marine fuel.

The successful completion of the first LNG bunkering operation in Valencia marked an important milestone for Spain and further strengthened Shell’s LNG supply capabilities across the Mediterranean. 

In a video shared by the company, bunkering vessel Alice Consulich was shown supplying an undisclosed volume of LNG to the container ship MSC Sabrina.

“As one of the region’s key maritime hubs, Valencia expands the options available to shipowners seeking LNG supply along major shipping routes,” Shell said in a social media post. 

Shell said the achievement reflected the strong collaboration across the maritime value chain, including MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, the Port of Valencia and Fratelli Cosulich Group.

“We look forward to making more LNG bunker deliveries in Valencia and across the Mediterranean as LNG infrastructure and capabilities continue to expand,” the company said. 

 

Photo credit: Shell
Published: 14 August, 2026

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LNG Bunkering

Énestas and Power LNG join forces on Galveston bunkering

Énestas will provide capital, LNG transport and storage equipment, and downstream expertise to support Power LNG’s planned liquefaction and marine bunkering facility on Pelican Island.

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Stabilis Solutions enter 10-year LNG bunkering supply deal for Port of Galveston

Power LNG (Power LNG) and Mexico’s LNG infrastructure and downstream natural gas company Énestas on Wednesday (12 August) announced the execution of definitive agreements establishing a strategic partnership to accelerate the development of LNG infrastructure at the Port of Galveston.

Under the agreement, Énestas will provide capital, LNG transportation and storage equipment, and downstream operating expertise to support the development of the Harborside Terminal and Project Seawolf, Power LNG’s planned LNG liquefaction and marine bunkering facility on Pelican Island.

The partnership creates an immediate pathway to begin LNG distribution by truck while Project Seawolf is under development, supporting marine fueling, virtual pipeline customers, industrial users, and LNG exports throughout the Gulf Coast, Latin America, and the Caribbean.

“Our vision has always been to establish Galveston as the premier LNG hub for the Gulf Coast,” said Austin Terry, Founder and CEO of Power LNG. 

“Énestas brings years of operational experience, proven LNG infrastructure, and a talented team that understands how to deliver LNG safely and efficiently. Together, we can immediately begin serving customers while laying the foundation for one of the most strategic LNG bunkering facilities in North America.”

Project Seawolf will provide LNG for marine bunkering, truck loading, virtual pipeline distribution, and international exports. The facility is strategically located at the Port of Galveston, serving one of the fastest-growing cruise, cargo, and energy corridors in the United States.

For Énestas, the transaction represented an important milestone in the company’s international growth strategy.

“This partnership represents a natural evolution for Énestas as we expand our downstream LNG business into the United States,” said Caio Zapata, Chief Executive Officer of Énestas. 

“For more than a decade, Énestas has developed and operated LNG infrastructure throughout Mexico, helping customers transition to cleaner, more reliable energy. Partnering with Power LNG allows us to leverage that experience in one of the most attractive LNG markets in North America. We see tremendous opportunities in marine bunkering, virtual pipeline logistics, industrial LNG supply, and exports to Latin America and the Caribbean, and we are excited to build that future together.”

The companies expect the partnership to support near-term LNG truck loading operations while advancing the long-term development of Project Seawolf, which is designed to become a regional hub for LNG production, marine fueling, and distribution.

The collaboration also establishes a platform to pursue additional downstream LNG opportunities throughout the Gulf Coast, utilising Énestas’ operational expertise together with Power LNG’s project development capabilities.

 

Photo credit: Port of Galveston
Published: 14 August, 2026

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LNG Bunkering

Stabilis delivers more than 150,000 cbm of LNG bunker fuel at Galveston

Company says the advancement of its proposed Stabilis Galveston LNG Facility is a natural progression of its established LNG bunkering footprint in Galveston.

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Stabilis delivers more than 150,000 cbm of LNG bunker fuel at Galveston

Clean energy production solutions provider Stabilis Solutions (Stabilis) on Thursday (13 August) said it has completed 97 LNG bunkering operations and delivered more than 150,000 m³ of LNG to customers in the Port of Galveston.

“As the only physical supplier of LNG on the Gulf Coast to reach this milestone, we’ve earned a reputation as a trusted, proven operator — both with local Galveston stakeholders and with the world’s largest cruise operator,” the company said in a social media post.

“That trust is reflected in the 10-year LNG offtake agreement we executed in December 2025.”

The company said the advancement of its proposed Stabilis Galveston LNG Facility is a natural progression of its established LNG bunkering footprint in Galveston. 

“As a Houston-based company, we believe in the Texas economy and the future growth of the Port of Galveston,” it added.

“That belief is why we’ve invested heavily over the past four years in the planning, permitting, and engineering design work to develop the most advanced, derisked, shovel-ready small-scale LNG liquefaction project on the Gulf Coast.”

Manifold Times previously reported Stabilis stating that the proposed Stabilis Galveston LNG Facility is anticipated to be in production by the third quarter of 2028.

It will come complete with the delivery of the first new-build, dedicated Jones Act-compliant LNG bunker barge in the Galveston/Houston area.

This comes following Stabilis receiving a Letter of Recommendation from the US Coast Guard following their formal review of the proposed Stabilis Galveston LNG Facility and associated waterfront LNG loading, marine transportation, and LNG bunkering operations in the Port of Galveston.

Related: Stabilis Solutions targets Q3 2028 launch for Galveston LNG bunkering facility
Related: Stabilis Solutions terminates 10-year LNG supply deal, expects delay in Galveston project

 

Photo credit: Stabilis Solutions
Published: 14 August, 2026

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