Singapore has raised the permissible limit for conventional bunker ships registered in the country to carry biofuel blends up to B30 without the need for separate approval, according to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA). The announcement, made in a circular on March 6, 2025, comes as part of Singapore’s ongoing commitment to sustainable shipping. The new regulation will take effect on March 7, 2025, and will apply to licensed bunker tankers operating in the Port of Singapore.

This change increases the permissible limit for conventional bunker tankers to deliver biofuel blends from the previous B25 to B30, marking a significant step in Singapore's efforts to support the use of biofuels in maritime transport. Under the new rules, bunker suppliers and bunker craft operators must ensure that proper technical and operational risk assessments are conducted and mutually agreed upon by both the buyer and seller before delivering biofuels up to B30. However, for biofuels exceeding B30 or those not listed in chapters 17 and 18 of the International Bulk Chemical Code (IBC Code) or MEPC.2/Circ.27 (Annex 11), approval from MPA’s Standards & Investigation – Marine Fuels (SIMF) department is required before delivery or pilot testing.

In addition, MPA confirmed that pilots for biofuel blends up to B100 are ongoing, and bunker suppliers may engage in these trials to test the performance and processes. This move comes ahead of the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) interim circular, expected at the upcoming Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) 83rd session in April. The IMO's circular will allow conventional bunker ships certified under MARPOL Annex I to transport biofuel blends up to B30.

According to MPA, the sale of alternative bunker fuels exceeded one million tonnes for the first time in 2024, reaching 1.34 million tonnes. Biofuel blend sales saw significant growth, rising from 0.52 million tonnes in 2023 to 0.88 million tonnes in 2024. While biofuel blends up to B50 are commercially available, trials involving up to B100 blends are currently underway. A notable example includes a collaboration between China Classification Society (CCS), Weichai Singapore, Marine Energy and Sustainability Research Department of Nanyang Technological University (MESD), and Pinnacle Marine, which is testing B100 biofuel in Singaporean waters for 1,000 hours.

The first marine biofuel trial involving an ocean-going vessel in Singapore occurred in April 2021, marking an important milestone in the country's biofuel adoption journey. In 2024, Vitol Bunkers, a subsidiary of energy and commodities company Vitol, took delivery of its first specialized biofuel bunker barge, Marine Future, which enables the supply of biofuel blends including B24, B30, and even B100.

The first-ever B100 biofuel bunkering in Singapore took place in May 2024, conducted by Danish shipping company Norden. This progressive step further solidifies Singapore’s position as a global leader in biofuel adoption in the maritime industry.