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The Port of Singapore, the world’s busiest transshipment hub and largest bunkering port, reported a growing demand for greener fuels in 2023 as it continues streamlining efforts towards a multi-fuel future.
Bunker sales in Singapore reached a record 51.8 million tonnes in 2023, surpassing the previous high, with alternative fuels accounting for 1.2% of the sales, according to MPA.
As a major hub connecting Asia with the Americas, Middle East, Europe and Africa, Singapore witnessed a remarkable year despite significant geopolitical challenges disturbing global maritime trade. Vessel arrival tonnage crossed the three billion gross tonnage (GT) mark for the first time, reaching a record of 3.09 billion GT in 2023. The three billion GT mark was crossed with the arrival of 98,799 GT Singapore-flagged containership, ONE Olympus, in late December 2023.
What is more, the container throughput at the port grew by 4.6%, reaching a new high of 39.01 million TEUs, and a total of more than 590 million tonnes of cargo was handled.
Singapore continues to grow as an international maritime center with total business spending exceeding S$4.8 billion (about $3.5 billion) in 2023, with over 25 maritime companies establishing or expanding their operations here. For example, Japanese sogo shosha Itochu has established a green desk in Singapore to support the green fuel bunkering and transportation value chain.
Singapore working to meet evolving alternative fuel needs
The port is constantly enhancing its capabilities to meet the evolving fuel needs of the global maritime industry.
In July 2023, the world’s first ship-to-containership methanol bunkering operation on board the Laura Maersk was conducted in the Port of Singapore. The operation was supported by MPA, working together with Maersk and various government and research partners, to ensure that the crew training, safety preparations and incident management responses, were all in place for efficient and safe operations.
In December 2023, Singapore welcomed its first methanol bunkering vessel, marking another stride in its commitment to serve as a living lab for bunkering alternative fuels. The vessel, MT Maple, was built by Sasaki Shipbuilding in Japan.
Furthermore, in March 2024, the port worked with its partners and supported the trial in the Port of Singapore on the world’s first use of ammonia, in combination with diesel in the combustion process, as a marine fuel onboard the Singapore-flagged ammonia-powered vessel, the Fortescue Green Pioneer.
The ship was loaded with liquid ammonia, in combination with diesel in the combustion process, from the existing ammonia facility at Vopak Banyan Terminal on Jurong Island for the fuel trial. The fuel trial was carried out over a period of seven weeks and included rigorous testing of the Fortescue Green Pioneer’s ammonia storage systems, associated piping, gas fuel delivery system, retrofitted engines, and seaworthiness.
Source: Offshore Energy
Source: Offshore Energy