Singapore tightens its bunker fuel testing parameters in response to a bunker contamination event in February 2022, where about 200 ships were supplied with high sulfur fuel oil (HSFO), containing high levels of chlorinated organic compounds (COC) in the port of Singapore.
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has informed all licensed bunker suppliers about the implementation of enhanced testing parameters for marine fuel batches intended to be delivered as bunkers in the port.
MPA has enhanced testing parameters, which will be mandatory from 1 June, intended to be carried out at the upstream supply chain, rather than for each individual delivery.
By taking these steps, system efficiency and cost-effectiveness will be increased.
This decision was made in response to concerns over fuel quality raised by the provision of high sulfur fuel oil (HSFO), with elevated levels of chlorinated organic compounds (COC) to about 200 ships.
To address the issue, an Industry Expert Group (IEG), co-chaired by the MPA and Singapore Shipping Association (SSA), was formed to strengthen the quality assurance of bunkers supplied in the port of Singapore.
The IEG provided its recommendations to the MPA in mid-2023, which have been taken into account.
Effective from June 1, 2024, all residual and bio-residual bunker marine fuel supplied in the port of Singapore, bunker suppliers must ensure that they do not contain COC above 50mg/kg, and must be free from inorganic acids.
For all distillate and bio-distillate bunker marine fuel supplied in the Port of Singapore, bunker suppliers must ensure that they are free from inorganic acids.
Residual marine fuels should also be free from polystyrene, polyethylene and polymethacrylate.
It is recommended that all MPA licensed bunker suppliers maintain proper test records to indicate that the current batch of bunker fuel supplied as bunkers in the port of Singapore is free from these polymers, as MPA notes.
For marine fuel which is blended using batches of different fuel or feedstock, the tests must be carried out after the blending, and before being delivered as bunkers in the port of Singapore.
Blending is not permitted on board the MPA licensed bunker craft and the Certificate of Quality (COQ) must be of the fuel prior loading to the bunker tanker before the product is delivered as bunkers in the port of Singapore.
