(EnergyAsia, October 19 2012, Friday) — Singapore has announced a slew of measures to improve the quality of bunker fuel supply and trade in the world’s largest market for shipping fuels.
In opening the 17th Singapore International Bunkering Conference and Exhibition (SIBCON), transport minister Lui Tuck Yew announced the introduction of an information sheet on licensed suppliers, an industry guide for the use of mass flow metering system, the launch of a study on frothed bunkers and the establishment of a hotline to help companies manage fuel disputes.
The event’s opening ceremony was attended by a record turnout of over 1,500 delegates at the Resorts World Sentosa.
Mr Lui said the Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) will publish information on licensed bunker suppliers operating in Singapore to help shipowners make better decisions on who they should deal with.
“The information sheet will enhance transparency across the bunkering supply chain by providing details on sales performance, technical performance and other value-added propositions,” said the MPA. It will be published on MPA’s website at www.mpa.gov.sg/sites/pdf/infomation_sheet-licensed_bunkering_suppliers.pdf and updated every six months.
Mr Lui also announced that MPA has developed an industry guide for the use of mass flow metering system during bunker deliveries in Singapore.
With this guide, MPA hopes to encourage more bunker players to adopt mass flow meters that will lead to the development of a Singapore Standard for Mass Flow Metering System. The guide is available at www.mpa.gov.sg/sites/pdf/mass-flow-metering-guide.pdf.
The MPA will also launch a study on frothed bunkers as well as establish a hotline at 1800-BUNKERS (1800-2865377) from November 1 to help manage bunker disputes.
MPA and the Singapore Maritime Institute have appointed the National Metrology Centre to conduct an in-depth study on frothed bunkers to tackle recent allegations of frothed bunkers being delivered in Singapore.
Due to be completed next year, the study aims to verify the presence of frothed bunkers and the impact of such frothing, if present, during the custody transfer of bunker fuel.
At the same event, MPA announced that another 13 companies have signed on to advance Singapore’s Green Pledge campaign to promote clean and green shipping launched in 2011. With the latest batch, a total of 40 key organisations have joined the campaign, said Lam Yi Young, MPA’s chief executive.
According to the MPA, the Green Ship programme encourages Singapore-flagged ships to use efficient ship designs to reduce fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. Owners whose ships exceed the requirements of the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) Energy Efficiency Design Index will be given a 50% discount on Initial Registration Fees (IRF) and a 20% rebate on annual tonnage tax (ATT) payable. To-date, 28 ships have qualified for the Green Ship Programme.
Also, owners of ships that use type-approved abatement/ scrubber technology or clean fuels with sulphur content of less than 1% during their port stay of five days or less can enjoy a 15% concession in port dues.
Up to September 30 2012, the MPA said that it had registered 369 vessels in the programme and given the owners of 742 vessels the 15% concession in port dues.
The MPA has set aside an initial $25 million from the Maritime Innovation and Technology (MINT) Fund to co-finance projects through the green programme. To-date, it has given a total of S$7.7 million in funding to 10 projects undertaken by nine maritime companies.