A new study has found that Singapore’s existing large harbour craft fleet is prepared to adopt B100 marine biofuel, provided operators follow proper fuel handling and storage protocols, according to Ship & Bunker.
The research, released this week by the Maritime Energy & Sustainable Development Centre of Excellence (MESD), combined laboratory testing with sea trials involving a tugboat and a bunker tanker, Ship & Bunker reports.
Engine Performance Held Steady
According to Ship & Bunker, engines maintained stable performance across 200 hours of sea trials, with no significant power loss, abnormal fuel consumption patterns, or critical operational disruptions recorded during testing.
The outlet also reports that B100 delivered brake thermal efficiency on par with conventional diesel, while generating lower carbon monoxide and particulate matter emissions. However, the study noted a modest rise in nitrogen oxide emissions when using the biofuel.
Storage Stability Addressed With Additives
Ship & Bunker reports that antioxidant additives improved the oxidation stability of B100, lowering the risk of fuel degradation during storage—a factor that has previously raised questions about biofuel’s practicality for marine applications.
MESD described the results as demonstrating “qualified readiness” among Singapore’s large harbour craft for B100 adoption, contingent on proper fuel-handling, storage, and additive practices, according to the report.
The study involved collaboration with KST Maritime, V-Bunkers Tankers, Alpha Biofuels, Aderco, Maritec Naias, and IHI Power Systems, with additional input from the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and the Singapore Maritime Institute, Ship & Bunker notes.
Regulatory Context
The findings arrive against a backdrop of tightening rules in Singapore’s port waters. As reported by Ship & Bunker, the MPA requires all new harbour craft operating from 2030 onward to be fully electric, capable of running on B100, or compatible with net-zero marine fuels.
Does This Matter to You?
For stakeholders monitoring Singapore’s bunkering and harbour craft sectors, this study offers early technical validation that B100 can be integrated into existing vessel operations without major retrofitting concerns, based on the reported sea trial results. Bunker suppliers and fuel handlers operating in Singapore may find the emphasis on storage stability and additive use particularly relevant, given the source’s findings on oxidation risks.
Harbour craft operators facing the MPA’s 2030 deadline may also view this study as a data point in evaluating compliance pathways, since B100 is named as one of three accepted options alongside full electrification and net-zero fuels. The direct commercial or pricing impact on bunker markets is not addressed in the source material.
Gulf Bunkering does not provide operational or security guidance. This article is for informational purposes only. Operators should consult flag state authorities, P&I clubs, and relevant advisories for decisions relating to transit planning.
Sources: Ship & Bunker
