TFG Marine welcomes LNG dual-fueled bunker tanker for Singapore operations

TFG Marine, an international marine fuel joint venture founded by Trafigura, Frontline and Golden Ocean, has christened the first liquefied natural gas (LNG) duel-fueled bunker tanker to join its fleet.

The naming ceremony took place in Keppel Bay Harbour, Singapore, on January 30, 2024.

The 5,000 dwt newbuild vessel, the MT Diligence, will join the company’s low sulphur fuel oil and biofuel supply operations in the major bunkering center of Singapore.

Built and operated for TFG by CBS Ventures, the MT Diligence has been designed to TFG’s technical specifications, including stringent safety considerations, so that it can be powered by LNG as well as conventional low sulphur bunker fuels.

“We’re delighted to see this modern, efficient vessel on the water, thanks to our collaboration with CBS Ventures Pte Ltd. Within a short period of time TFG has grown to be one of the premier suppliers of a range of bunker fuels for vessels calling at the Port of Singapore. Deploying a vessel that can be powered by LNG helps TFG Marine to meet its licence requirement and our commitment to the Maritime & Port Authority of Singapore,” Kenneth Dam, TFG Marine’s Global Head of Bunkering, said.

“We are committed to renew our fleet of vessels using alternative fuels, supporting Singapore’s decarbonisation efforts. The transition to green ships requires additional investment, both in terms of capital and technology. We could not have delivered the MT Diligence without the support of our charterer TFG Marine and our bankers DBS, who have been our trusted partners and collaborators throughout this journey,” Lim Li-Lian, Director of CBS Ventures, commented.

“I would like to thank the Maritime & Port Authority of Singapore for their support and guidance, and for sharing their vision of a more sustainable maritime industry.”

The MT Diligence has been fitted with a Mass Flow Meter (MFMs), as required by the MPA. TFG has long been an advocate of the global adoption of calibrated MFMs to bring much-needed transparency to bunkering.

A recent whitepaper sponsored by TFG and other key stakeholders recognises the success of Singapore’s MFM-based bunker licensing system and proposes this as a template for regulators in other regions across the world, promoting transparency and encouraging digitalization in the long-term interests of the bunker industry and helping to further the decarbonization goals of the shipping industry.

In related news, Italian maritime transportation group Fratelli Cosulich recently ordered its first methanol dual-fueled chemical bunker tanker with a capacity of over 8,000 cubic meters and the ability to carry both green methanol and biofuels. Slated for delivery in 2025, the vessel will be deployed to deliver marine fuels for TFG Marine.