Vitol takes delivery of first biofuel bunker tanker in Asia

The new bunker tanker will enable Vitol to supply biofuel blends with more than 24% biofuel for bunkering in Singapore.

PHOTO: Vitol's new biofuel bunker tanker Marine Future in Singapore. Vitol

The new tanker, Marine Future, built in China, is an IMO type 2 chemical tanker and will be added to Vitol's subsidiary, V-Bunkers’ fleet. It has a biofuel-carrying capacity of 7,000 mt.

The Marine Future will deliver biofuel blends up to B100 (100% biofuel), including the most common B24 and B30 blend ratios. Currently, the bunker tanker fleet in Singapore is classified as ‘oil tankers’ and is only allowed to carry biofuel blends with a maximum of 25% bio-component. If the biofuel blend concentration is higher than 25%, it requires an IMO Type 2 chemical tanker, as per IMO rules.

The barge was earlier scheduled to arrive in January. Vitol expects to induct more such bunker tankers this year.

Singapore sold around 1,400 mt/day of bio-bunkers in 2023, according to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA). The bio-bunker sales were significantly up from almost 400 mt/day in 2022.

Almost all of the bio-blended bunkers sold in 2023 were VLSFO blended with a bio component – typically 24% in Singapore. Total biofuel bunker sales across 2023 stood at 524,000 mt – more than thrice the amount sold across 2022.

By Manjula Nair

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