by Lloyd's List, SeaNewsEditor

24 July 2025 (Lloyd's List) - SEVERAL of the world’s largest shipping companies have united to form the Bunkering Services Initiative to make the bunkering market more transparent.

Focusing on the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp area for now, the initiative includes names such as Hafnia, BW, Hapag-Lloyd, Cargill, Mercuria, Minerva Bunkering, Oldendorff Carriers, Trafigura, TFG Marine, Unifeeder and Vitol, alongside other energy and shipping players.

Together the initiative represents 20% of bunkering volume in the ARA area.

The initiative would focus on issues such as quality opacity and even shortages, Hafnia said, and would use data to monitor participant behaviour and adherence to standards.

It will use mass flow meters, traceable fuel-quality measurements, full accounting of quantity balances and real-time reporting to participants.

Lloyd’s Register has been appointed as the system auditor, performing unannounced barge inspections and verifying compliance with the initiative’s standards and data integrity.

Hafnia said the programme would advance “the objectives of regulatory authorities without requiring their administration”.