In the wake of IMO 2020, the Chinese New Year and the coronavirus, the more than usual uncertainty has generated rough sailing throughout all sectors of shipping.

Marine fuels and lubricants pricing technology firm Bulugo has developed a new online platform to help ship operators source bunker fuels and lubricants in ports across the world.

Russian oil and gas firm Gazprom Neft is increasing its production of IMO 2020 compliant very low sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO) at its Omsk Refinery following upgrading works at the refinery.

Romania’s OMV Petrom has started the production of 0.5% low sulphur fuel oil at its Petrobrazi refinery in response to the implementation of IMO 2020.

While the economics of scrubbers have proved to be extremely healthy in the first month of IMO 2020 the price and supply picture for heavy fuel oil (HFO) could become more uncertain over time according to leading bunker supplier Monjasa.

DHT Holdings has saved $14.6m in bunkering from fitting scrubbers on 12 of its vessels to comply with IMO 2020, but six more retrofits face delays of an uncertain length due to the impact of the coronavirus on Chinese yards.

Trading houses Trafigura and Mercuria, and oil services firm GP Global have applied for bunker supplier licences to operate in Singapore, reports said.

DNV GL has developed and introduced a new online bunkering tool to help operators with the use of LNG as fuel from order through to delivery.

German carrier Hapag-Lloyd has embarked on the use of biofuel as marine fuel as part of the company’s efforts to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) from its ships.

Finland’s gas company Gasum has penned a deal to supply LNG to four new crude shuttle tankers ordered by Norway’s energy firm Equinor.