The Singapore Shipping Association (SSA) has conducted the inaugural run of a training course designed to prepare maritime professionals for the transition to mandatory digital bunkering in Singapore, which came into effect on 1 April 2025.

The course, titled 'Maritime Bunkering: The Transformation Journey 101', brought together 10 maritime professionals and was led by Collin Ng, Chief Technology and Product Officer at Ofiniti, along with his team. According to the SSA, the programme went beyond explaining regulatory requirements, incorporating industry case studies, practical discussions and implementation-focused workshops covering operational, technological and organisational considerations.

Singapore’s bunkering industry is moving towards mandatory digital bunkering, with the electronic bunker delivery note (eBDN) now required as part of that framework. The SSA says the course was designed to help companies evaluate the impact of digitalisation on their existing workflows, stakeholder engagement and business processes.

The association notes that digital bunkering can deliver benefits beyond regulatory compliance, including improved transparency, stronger auditability and a reduced likelihood of commercial disputes. Standardised digital data, according to the SSA, can also support better operational planning and performance monitoring.

Course participant, How Peng Kheng, from chartering operations at Aster Chemicals and Energy Pte. Ltd., remarked: “Having recently started a role in bunker procurement, I was not aware that eBDN and mandatory digital bunkering had been implemented in Singapore from 1 April 2025. The course helped me keep abreast of the latest developments and transformation taking place in this space.”

The SSA acknowledged that digitalisation presents challenges for many companies, including adapting to new workflows, integrating digital systems and managing organisational change.

The association says it plans to run further editions of the course. Companies wishing to participate can check the SSA courses calendar or contact training@ssa.org.sg for upcoming dates.