The Port of Singapore Leading the Way in Digital Bunkering

The Port of Singapore—the world’s largest bunkering port—is set to fully embrace digital bunkering. Starting from April 1, 2025, bunker suppliers will be mandated to provide digital bunkering services and issue electronic bunker delivery notes (e-BDNs) as the standard procedure.

During the 80th Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) session in July 2023, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) officially approved the use of digital bunker delivery notes alongside hard copies.

In November of the same year, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) launched the digital bunkering initiative with approved digital solutions. This move made Singapore the pioneer in implementing e-BDNs.

In addition to transitioning to e-BDNs, MPA will also reduce the frequency of mass flow meter (MFM) verification from twice to once a year starting April 1, 2025, resulting in potential savings of around $300,000 annually for the industry.

Furthermore, MPA plans to introduce a centralized e-BDN record verification system by 2025. This system will allow key stakeholders to authenticate e-BDNs received from bunker suppliers against the data transmitted to MPA.

Enterprise Singapore and Singapore Standards Council (SSC) are expected to introduce a new standard titled “Specification for Digital Bunkering Supply Chain Documentation” to ensure uniformity and compatibility among digital systems. This will streamline transactions through reliable and verifiable digital bunkering documents. The revised Singapore Standard (SS) 648 Code of Practice for Bunker Mass Flow Metering will include data integrity and transmission requirements in alignment with the new digital standard.

The digital bunkering initiative is estimated to save the industry close to 40,000 man-days annually by automating manual processes and paperwork across the bunkering value chain. This digitization will facilitate efficient data sharing between bunker buyers and suppliers, expediting administrative procedures, enhancing accountability, ensuring regulatory compliance, minimizing errors, and detecting fraudulent activities early. Additionally, it will promote a more efficient, secure, and eco-friendly bunkering process.

Moreover, in January 2025, MPA announced that sales of alternative bunker fuels surpassed one million tonnes for the first time, reaching 1.34 million tonnes in 2024. Total bunker sales also hit a record high of 54.92 million tonnes, marking a 6% year-on-year increase.

According to MPA, Singapore supplies more than a sixth of the global shipping industry’s fuel and is committed to further expanding its multi-fuel pathway.