Singapore Bunkering
Bunkering is the supply of marine fuel to ships, and Singapore is the world's largest bunkering port by volume. The activity is licensed and tightly regulated by the Maritime and Port Authority (MPA): bunker suppliers, bunker craft operators and bunker surveyors all hold MPA licences and work to the Singapore bunkering standards (SS 600 / SS 648).
A defining feature of Singapore bunkering is the mandatory use of Mass Flow Meters (MFM) for bunker delivery, phased in from 2017. MFMs measure fuel delivered by mass in real time, cutting the quantity disputes and malpractice that plague traditional tank-dipping — a major reason for Singapore's trusted reputation as a bunker hub.
Fuel is a ship's single biggest running cost, and disputes over how much was actually delivered are endemic worldwide. Singapore's licensed suppliers and mandatory mass flow meters make bunker quantity verifiable and trusted — which, alongside its location on the main east–west trade lane, is why so many ships choose to bunker here.
What is a mass flow meter?
A device that measures bunker fuel delivered by mass in real time, giving an accurate, tamper-resistant record of the quantity supplied. Its use is mandatory for bunkering in Singapore.
Who regulates bunkering in Singapore?
The Maritime and Port Authority (MPA), which licenses bunker suppliers, craft operators and surveyors and sets the bunkering standards.