With the most recent trial with Shell ending well and backing from the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) for the adoption of the electronic Bunker Delivery Note (e-BDN), Ocean Network Express (ONE) is stepping up its efforts to become digital.
The e-BDN experiment, which used the digital bunkering solution created by Angsana Technology, was performed last month 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.”
The adoption of e-BDN has been a focal point for the digitalisation of international shipping. ONE has previously conducted several rounds of e-BDN trials with partners.
“At the MEPC80 session in July 2023, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) approved the acceptance of bunker delivery notes (BDNs) in both hard copy and digital formats, provided they meet the relevant requirements of MARPOL Annex VI.”
Prior to the MPA launching its digital bunkering plan on November 1, 2023, ONE and Shell are conducting a trial of the e-BDN, which is anticipated to save the bunker business roughly 39,000 man-days annually.
“MPA is encouraged by the successful completion of the digital bunkering trial and we look forward to implementing electronic bunkering processes and documentations in the Port of Singapore progressively from November 2023 onwards,” says Teo Eng Dih, Chief Executive, and MPA.
“Apart from ensuring more secure and transparent operations when used with mass flow metres, e-BDN will help build higher levels of trust amongst bunker buyers, suppliers, and financial institutions, and enable a more efficient and resilient ecosystem.
The adoption of digital documentations at scale will help reduce business costs at the port ecosystem level and bring greater value to stakeholders across the entire bunkering value chain.” Jeremy Nixon, CEO, ONE added, “We are excited to play a role in advancing e-BDN practices. By adopting e-BDN, we will have greater visibility and reliability of our bunkering operations and a more sustainable footprint.”
One of ONE’s five core decarbonization projects to attain net zero emissions by 2050 has been operational efficiency through the vessel digitalization programme, according to the announcement. With a fleet of around 1.69 million TEUs, ONE, a member of THE Alliance (THEA), is the sixth biggest container carrier in the world.
