Singapore Raises Biofuel Blend Limits For Licensed Bunker Tankers To B30

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) in a circular on 6th March 2025 announced that it has raised the permissible limits for traditional bunker tankers to transport biofuel blends up to B30 from the present B25.

This came into effect on March 7, 2025 and shows Singapore’s commitment to sustainable shipping practices.

Now, licensed bunker tankers in the Singapore Port will carry and deliver biofuels up to B30 without getting MPA’s separate approval.

In the case of marine biofuel blends up to B30, bunker suppliers and bunker craft operators will have to make sure that proper technical plus operational risk assessments are conducted and agreed between buyers and sellers before the delivery, informed the MPA.

For the supply of marine fuels above B30 or for biofuels that are not mentioned in Chapters 17 and 18 of the IBC code or the MEPC.2/Circ.27 (Annex 11), bunker suppliers and bunker craft operators need to get approval from MPA’s Standards & Investigation – Marine Fuels (SIMF) department.

Per the port authority, this decision comes after submission of IMO’s interim circular at the approaching Marine Environment Protection Committee’s 83rd session in April. This would enable bunker ships certified under MARPOL Annex I to carry biofuel blends of up to 30%.

Though biofuel blends up to B50 are available, trials of up to B100 are still ongoing. The 1st marine biofuel trial that involved an ocean-going ship in Singapore was carried out in 2021.

Also, Vitol Bunkers received its first specialised biofuel bunker barge, the Marine Future in Singapore, allowing the supply of biofuel blends including B24, B30 and up to B100. The first B100 biofuel bunkering in Singapore was done by Norden in 2024.

References: Chemanalyst, Bunkerspot

Source: Maritime Shipping News