MPA pulished Shipping Circular 062025 advising the shipping community that the International Maritime Organization’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC), at its 83rd session1, approved Interim guidance on the carriage of blends of biofuels and MARPOL Annex I cargoes by conventional bunker ships (MEPC.1/Circ.917).
MEPC.1/Circ.917 sets out that conventional bunker ships may transport blends of not more than 30% by volume of biofuel (≤B30), as long as all residues or tank washings are discharged ashore unless the oil discharge monitoring equipment (ODME) is approved for the biofuel blend(s) being shipped, pending further development of carriage requirements on biofuels for conventional bunker ships certified for carriage of oil fuels under MARPOL Annex I or the revision of the current carriage requirements as provided in the IBC Code and circular MSCMEPC.2/Circ.174.
The approved interim guidance had been implemented early by MPA since 7 March 2025, allowing Singapore-registered conventional bunker ships to transport blends of not more than 30% by volume of biofuel (≤B30), consistent with MEPC.1/Circ.917. There is no requirement to seek MPA’s separate approval.
Shipowners, ship managers, operators and masters of Singapore-registered conventional bunker ships are hereby reminded to comply with MEPC.1/Circ.917, and obtain approval from the competent Port State Authority before calling at a foreign port for operations with blends containing more than 25% but not more than 30% by volume of biofuel (>B25 to ≤B30) onboard.
For the use of marine biofuels above B30 or biofuels not listed in chapters 17 and 18 of the IBC Code or the circular MEPC.2, as amended (Annex 11), bunker suppliers and bunker craft operators are required to seek approval from MPA’s Standards & Investigation – Marine Fuels (SIMF) department prior to conducting pilots and/or delivery to shipowners, ship managers and operators. Pilots for up to B100 are on-going, and vessels can engage in these pilots to test the efficacy and procedures.
This circular supersedes Shipping Circular No. 1 of 2025. Any queries relating to this circular should be directed to MPA Shipping Division via email at shipping@mpa.gov.sg.