Singapore’s Maritime and Port Authority releases rules update for use of biofuel blends

In Singapore, the Maritime and Port Authority released a circular to inform the shipping community that the International Maritime Organization’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC), at its 83rd session, 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 MSC-MEPC.2/Circ.17.

Shipowners, ship managers, operators and masters of Singapore-registered conventional bunker ships are 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.