Connect with us

Business

Singapore bunkering sector enters new chapter with first LNG dual fuelled tanker

The General Manager of Sinanju Tankers speaks with Manifold Times to explain its rational for building the first LNG-fuelled bunkering vessel in Singapore.
Admin

Published

8 years ago

on

5acc4fa573ad4 1523339173

Singapore-based bunkering firm Sinanju Tankers Holdings (Sinanju) and project partner Mitsui & Co. (Asia Pacific) (Mitsui AP) placed an order for a liquefied natural gas (LNG) dual-fuel powered bunker tanker with Keppel Singmarine on Monday.

The development was based on a decision to support Singapore’s direction to be a global maritime hub for connectivity, innovation and talent as part of its Sea Transport Industry Transformation Map, says the General Manager of Sinanju.

“This vessel will be utilised to train crew on LNG handling procedures and safety,” Desmond Chong told Manifold Times in an interview.

“Operating this bunker tanker will add impetus for our staff and crew to familiarise themselves with the Technical Reference for LNG Bunkering (TR56:2017) and more importantly, the safe and efficient handling of LNG when re-fuelling this vessel.

“We will be in good stead when embarking in ship-to-ship LNG bunkering as our next milestone.”

The 7,990 dwt bunkering vessel, Singapore’s first, will be powered mainly by liquefied natural gas (LNG) to deliver marine fuels to ocean-going vessels within local port limits. It is capable of delivering a variety of bunker fuels, with the exception of LNG, to receiving ships.

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) in October 2016 launched the LNG bunkering pilot programme with a budget of SGD $12 million to test operational protocols, gain operational experience and beef up Singapore’s capabilities in the areas of LNG bunkering. 

In December 2017, it injected another SGD $12 million of funds to boost the development of LNG bunkering operations at Singapore; half of it has been set aside to co-fund the building of new LNG bunkering vessels while the remaining will be used to support the construction of LNG-fuelled vessels at Singapore.

The funds have been helpful in financing Sinanju’s latest newbuilding project; however, more needs to be done if the company were to take the next step of constructing a specialised bunkering vessel capable of delivering LNG as a marine fuel.

“MPA’s grant of up to SGD $3 million to build a LNG bunkering vessel is very much appreciated; but for now, when the price of a LNG newbuild is at two to three times the cost of a normal bunker tanker, it is simply too huge an investment hurdle for a small enterprise like ourselves to undertake,” says Chong.

“As the world’s largest bunkering port, we support MPA’s multi-pronged approach to position Singapore as a world leader in providing access to clean fuels such as LNG across key shipping routes.

“However, without clear direction from shipowners on their fuel requirements from 2020 onwards, and no indication by LNG-powered vessels on their LNG bunker volumes – and if at all to call at Singapore for LNG bunker, we have been forced to take a hard look at the commercial justification of investing in LNG bunkering vessels at this current moment.”

Moving on, Chong believes Sinanju’s newbuild dual fuel powered bunkering vessel will be able to meet the fuel delivery requirements of its clients at Singapore port.

“We see a trend in oil companies encouraging and promoting the use of LNG in the shipping industry as a clean alternative fuel,” he says.

“We thus believe that such a LNG-powered vessel would be aligned to our clients’ (namely the oil majors and independent suppliers) requirements for their use.”

Photo credit: Sinanju Tankers Holdings
Published: 10 April, 2018

 

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

Methanol

OOCL dual-fuel boxship completes first green methanol bunkering op at Qingdao Port

“OOCL Wisdom” completed its first green methanol bunkering and commenced its maiden voyage to Europe at Qingdao Port on 3 July.

Admin

Published

3 hours ago

on

July 6, 2026

By

OOCL dual-fuel boxship completes first green methanol bunkering op at Qingdao Port

​International container transportation and logistics company Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL) on Friday (3 July) said its first methanol dual-fuel containership, OOCL Wisdom, completed its first green methanol bunkering and commenced its maiden voyage at Qingdao Port.

OOCL Wisdom is the first in a series of seven methanol dual-fuel container vessels. With a maximum capacity of 24,168 TEU, it is currently the world’s largest methanol dual‑fuel container vessel and is deployed on the Asia – North Europe Loop 1 (LL1) service.

Mr. Peter Pan, Director of Trades of OOCL, said: “OOCL Wisdom completed its first green methanol bunkering and commenced its maiden voyage to Europe at Qingdao Port, representing a significant achievement of the deepening collaboration between OOCL and Shandong Port Group, and reflecting OOCL’s steadfast commitment to green and low‑carbon development, digital intelligence and sustainability.”

 

Photo credit: Orient Overseas Container Line
Published: 6 July, 2026

Continue Reading

LNG Bunkering

Zhejiang Province wraps up first cross-regional bonded LNG bunkering operation

“Hai Yang Shi You 302” supplied container ship “MSC Maria Laura” with 3,500 cubic meters of bonded LNG at Chuanshan Port Area, after the bunkering vessel received bonded LNG in Zhoushan.

Admin

Published

3 hours ago

on

July 6, 2026

By

Zhejiang Province wraps up first cross-regional bonded LNG bunkering operation

Zhejiang Province on Saturday (27 June) completed its first cross-regional bonded LNG bunkering operation at Chuanshan Port Area of ​​Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, according to Hangzhou Customs. 

Bunkering vessel Hai Yang Shi You 302 travelled to ENN Zhoushan LNG receiving terminal to load bonded LNG. The vessel then supplied container ship MSC Maria Laura with 3,500 cubic meters of bonded LNG at Chuanshan Port Area. 

Zhejiang Province wraps up first cross-regional bonded LNG bunkering operation

Compared with the traditional single-port bunkering model, the cross-regional operation removes the geographical barriers between Zhoushan’s gas supply and bunkering demand in Ningbo’s core port area, enabling cross-port LNG transfer within the province.

“The new operating model addresses longstanding constraints associated with the geographical limitations of LNG supply reloading and tight operational time windows,” said Chen Bangkui, Business Manager at CNOOC Zhejiang New Energy Co Ltd. 

“We can now flexibly source bonded LNG from both Zhoushan and Ningbo, significantly improving operational flexibility and efficiency.”

 

Photo credit: Hangzhou Customs
Published: 6 July, 2026

Continue Reading

Battery

ICCT: China’s electric cargo ship fleet grows 950% in three years

In its latest blog, ICCT says vessel sizes for electric cargo ships have grown significantly, indicating that China is testing the feasibility of electrification for increasingly larger ships.

Admin

Published

3 hours ago

on

July 6, 2026

By

CHUTTERSNAP MT

The International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) recently said China’s fleet of electric cargo ships has grown by 950%, from just four vessels in 2022 to 42 in 2025.

According to its latest blog, electrification is rapidly expanding along inland waterways in the country, offering a pathway to cut emissions, improve air quality, and lower operating costs.

ICCT said electric cargo ships are entering real-world operation at a rapidly growing pace

“Ship types have diversified, from bulk carriers and container ships to multi-purpose cargo ships. At the same time, vessel sizes have grown significantly, with the maximum deadweight tonnage (DWT) rising from around 3,000 tonnes in 2022 to approximately 14,000 tonnes in 2025,” it said.

“This indicates that China is testing the feasibility of electrification for increasingly larger ships.”

Although battery capacity constraints continue to limit sailing range per charge—which typically hovered between 150 km and 400 km from 2022 to 2025—trends show steady improvement; by 2025, electric cargo ships with a range of up to 500 km were already in operation in China.

Inland waterways have become the primary testing ground for electric cargo ship deployment. 

By the end of 2025, 86% of electric cargo ships in China were operating on internal rivers. 

“Nine provinces and municipalities have already launched pilot projects, covering major waterways such as the Yangtze River, the Pearl River, and the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal,” ICCT added.

The blog also explored the opportunities, challenges, and policy actions that could accelerate the shift to electric inland shipping.

“Developing an enhanced subsidy that favors electric vessels, on top of the current vessel trade-in subsidy program, could help reduce the upfront investment burden for electric vessel adoption,” it recommended.

ICCT added that tightening ship engine emission standards toward world-leading levels could increase the compliance costs of conventional-fuel vessels and improve the relative competitiveness of electric ships.

“The electrification of inland shipping in China is already underway; what is needed now is smart policy to accelerate the transition,” it said.

 

Photo credit: CHUTTERSNAP on Unsplash
Published: 6 July, 2026

Continue Reading

Trending