Singapore Advances Multi-Fuel Bunkering and Digitalisation at SIBCON 2026
Cubierto por 3 fuentesPublicado
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The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and Enterprise Singapore unveiled at the 24th Singapore International Bunkering Conference and Exhibition (SIBCON 2026) a series of initiatives to expand alternative marine fuel bunkering capabilities and strengthen digitalisation across the sector. The event, opened by Senior Minister of State Murali Pillai under the theme 'Charting a Resilient Multi-Fuel Future,' runs from 13 to 15 October 2026 and brings together more than 2,000 maritime professionals from over 60 countries.
Ammonia, LNG and biomethane
Among the measures announced, MPA and Enterprise Singapore launched Technical Reference TR 148 for ammonia bunkering, covering safety requirements, procedures and custody transfer, while the Singapore Chamber of Maritime Arbitration (SCMA) develops a model contract for these operations. In parallel, MPA, CMA CGM and Singapore LNG Corporation (SLNG) signed a memorandum of understanding to explore the use of liquefied biomethane as a marine fuel, leveraging existing LNG infrastructure, as confirmed by MPA CEO Ang Wee Keong, CMA CGM Asia Pacific CEO Bo Wegener, and SLNG CEO Leong Wei Hung.
Methanol and bunkering standards
As part of the Pre-Conference Symposium, SCMA presented the Singapore Methanol Bunkering Form, developed by its Methanol Working Group with input from shipowners, fuel suppliers, lawyers and regulators, which builds on the rollout of Technical Reference TR 129 and the methanol bunkering licences issued by MPA since January 2026. At the same time, Captain Rahul Choudhuri, Chairman of the Environmental Liquid Fuels Bunkering Technical Committee, detailed progress on standards for biofuels, methanol, LNG and ammonia within a comprehensive approach combining custody transfer, quality, quantity and crew competency.
Quality and digitalisation
To strengthen bunker fuel quality assurance, the new Singapore Standard for Bunker Sampling (SS 730:2026) and Technical Reference TR 155:2026 on the test method for polymers in residual marine fuels were introduced. On the digitalisation front, the electronic bunker delivery note has been the default documentation since April 2025, and Phase 2 of the Digital Fuel Bunkering initiative will seek to automate the flow of data from mass flow meters to regulators and stakeholders, with a grant call planned for November 2026 and the launch of the Bunker Supplier Management System 2.0 in the second quarter of 2027.
Shipowners' perspective
From the operators' standpoint, Elfian Harun of INTERTANKO raised at the same symposium the urgent need for consistency and accountability in the bunkering sector, noting that the current fragmentation of standards across ports and suppliers creates planning difficulties for shipowners. He also warned that the existence of international standards such as ISO 22192 does not by itself guarantee uniform enforcement across all ports, and called for mechanisms that hold suppliers accountable for the quality of fuels delivered, including low-emission fuels.
