The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA Singapore) has published guidance on transporting biofuel blends by conventional bunker ships.
With effect from 7th March this year, Singapore-registered conventional bunker ships may transport blends of up to 30% by volume of biofuel (≤B30).
In a circular, the Authority highlighted the draft Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) interim guidance on the carriage of blends of biofuels by conventional bunker ships agreed by 12th Session of the Sub-Committee on Pollution Prevention and Response (PPR 12). This draft guidance will be reviewed for approval at the 83rd MEPC session this month.
The draft guidance said conventional bunker ships can transport the ≤B30 biofuel as long as all residues or tank washings are discharged ashore unless the oil discharge monitoring equipment is approved for the biofuel blend(s) being shipped. This is until further development of carriage requirements on biofuels for conventional bunker ships certified for carriage of oil fuels under MARPOL Annex I or the revision of the current carriage requirements are confirmed.
Following various pilots, MPA Singapore participated actively in the draft guidance and accepted this draft for early implementation for Singapore-registered conventional bunker ships starting from 7th March 2025. No separate MPA approval is necessary.
Shipowners, ship managers, operators and masters of Singapore-registered conventional bunker ships are reminded to comply with this guidance and to obtain approval from the competent Port State Authority before calling at a foreign port for operations with blends >B25 to ≤B30 on board.
For biofuels above B30 or biofuels not listed in chapters 17 and 18 of the IBC code or the MEPC.2/Circ.27 (Annex 11), bunker suppliers and bunker craft operators must seek approval from MPA’s Standards & Investigation – Marine Fuels (SIMF) department before conducting pilot tests or deliveries. Pilots for up to B100 are ongoing, and vessels can engage in these pilots to test the efficacy and procedures.
Download the PDF: MPA-Singapore-2025.pdf
