Singapore is to implement electronic bunker delivery notes to digitalise the city state’s huge bunker industry.
The digital bunkering initiative will kick-off on 1 November 2023 following successful trials in the city-state, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) said.
The maritime regulator said using electronic bunker delivery notes, or e-BDN, said to be the first in the world, would help “boost efficiency and transparency”.
The MPA said by utilising the mobile and cloud solutions available to complete and issue digital bunkering documents, the industry can save close to 40,000 person-days per year.
The digital approach is also said to streamline workflow and enhance crew safety by eliminating the need to transfer bunker documents between vessels physically.
Over 100 trials have been conducted since January 2023, involving more than 20 companies in the Singapore bunkering ecosystem.
“Feedback from users will continue to be gathered to improve these solutions, with plans to make digital bunkering a mandatory requirement by the end of 2024,” the MPA said.
“Meanwhile, MPA will continue to explore and work with the industry on other enhancements, including automating the data flow from mass flow meters,” it added.
Japanese shipowner Ocean Network Express is one company that has successfully completed an e-BDN adoption trial.
The e-BDN trial, using a digital bunkering solution developed by Angsana Technology, was conducted on 9 September at the Port of Singapore.
“As part of the trial, the cargo officer, chief engineer, and bunker surveyor logged in to the platform via their unique link and one-time password to complete the electronic bunkering documentations for pre-delivery and post-delivery. Upon completion, the bunkering documents were transmitted to all parties before the vessels departed,” ONE said.
“Apart from ensuring more secured and transparent operations when used with mass flow meters, e-BDN will help build higher levels of trust amongst bunker buyers, suppliers, and financial institutions and enable a more efficient and resilient ecosystem,” said MPA chief executive Teo Eng Dih.
“The adoption of digital documentation at scale will help reduce business costs at the port ecosystem level and bring greater value to stakeholders across the entire bunkering value chain.”
