I am pleased to note the announcement from the Port of Rotterdam and Port of Antwerp-Bruges mandating the use of mass flow meters (MFM) from 2026 onwards. IBIA has always been vocal in our support of greater transparency in the bunker sector, with the use of MFM as one of the solutions.  

As the digitalisation agenda continues to develop within the bunkering sector, the use of MFM will greatly support the streamlining of end-to-end bunkering processes including the use of electronic bunker delivery notes (BDN).

On this note, to further enhance the efficiency and transparency of the bunkering process in Singapore, the Maritime & Port of Authority of Singapore (MPA) has announced the launch of its digital bunkering initiative to implement electronic bunkering processes and documentations (including e-BDN) effective 1 November 2023. Singapore has conducted more than 100 trials since January 2023, involving more than 20 companies in the bunkering ecosystem.

Although this initiative will not be a mandatory requirement until end of 2024, MPA will use this period from now till then, to gather feedback to improve these solutions and work on other enhancement including automating the data flow from MFM.

During this period, licensed bunker suppliers, ship owners, operators and crew are encouraged to make use of mobile and cloud solutions approved by MPA to complete and issue the digital bunkering documents – these ‘whitelisted’ digital solutions will automatically relay bunkering-related information required by MPA, thereby streamlines workflow, increased productivity and enhances crew safety by eliminating the need for physical transfer of documents between vessels.

To support these developments and to facilitate digitalisation of current bunker processes within bunker supply chains, the industry-led Singapore Standards Council is developing a new specification for digital bunkering supply chain documentation and revising the existing SS648:2019 Code of Practice for Bunker Mass Flow Metering to incorporate electronic bunkering documentation.

Singapore, being a global bunkering hub, has always set the standard for other bunkering ports to follow, and we can look forward to more ports taking the lead from Singapore when it comes to embracing digitalisation within the bunkering sector.