The Gap Between the Tech Hype and the Hiring Reality
The bunker trading sector is awash with technological ambition. According to a commentary published on Ship & Bunker by Vernon Jayanathan of Maritime Recruitment Company Limited, a recent IE Week event showcased an array of firms — from early-stage start-ups to more established players — all positioning themselves to disrupt traditional bunkering through tools like artificial intelligence, big data analytics, digital procurement platforms, and blockchain-enabled solutions such as electronic Bills of Delivery (E-BDN).
Yet despite this wave of innovation, the ground-level reality for traders tells a very different story.
Nine Out of Ten Traders Still Go Old School
Jayanathan, drawing on conversations with active traders, reports that only approximately one in ten said they currently use AI or any form of sophisticated technology in their day-to-day work. The overwhelming majority continue to rely on established methods — most notably, cultivating direct relationships with clients and counterparties.
Critically, he notes that not a single employer has listed technical proficiency in these emerging tools as a job-winning requirement in the briefs he has received. The gap between industry buzz and actual hiring criteria, he writes via Ship & Bunker, remains wide.
The Energy Transition: Real, But Moving Slowly
A similar picture emerges around alternative fuels. Jayanathan points to a separate Ship & Bunker analysis of the global orderbook, which found that over 80% of recent bunker demand from new orders was for oil-powered vessels. Consistent with that data, he reports that requests for candidates with specialist knowledge in future fuels — including biofuels — remain rare across his job briefs.
While he acknowledges the importance of general awareness around decarbonisation, sustainability, and new supply chains for fuels such as LNG and biofuels, deep expertise in these areas has not yet emerged as a standard hiring criterion.
What Employers Are Actually Looking For
According to Jayanathan’s findings, the skills that genuinely move the needle in bunker trading recruitment today are:
- Commercial mindset
- Negotiation expertise
- Cultural sensitivity
- Relationship-building
- Integrity
These qualities, he writes, foster the trust that underpins a global and diverse marketplace — and they continue to be the decisive factors when employers assess candidates.
Jayanathan is clear that this is not an argument against adaptation. He acknowledges that the industry is changing and that traders will need to evolve alongside it. However, his message to those feeling overwhelmed by the pace of change is a measured one: awareness matters, but panic does not.
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 (Maritime Recruitment Company Limited / Vernon Jayanathan)
