NTU Study Urges ‘Fingerprinting’ Green Bunkers to Combat Fraud | Mariner News
A new study has recommended the chemical “fingerprinting” of green bunkers and the establishment of a central database to combat feedstock fraud, arguing that paper-based checks are insufficient as the IMO develops its own fuel certification rules. The proposal, which also calls for phasing out high-ILUC crop feedstocks, comes in response to recent cases where virgin crop oils were falsely declared as waste used cooking oil (UCO) and palm oil mill effluent (POME).
The study, commissioned by US-based climate campaign group Pacific Environment and carried out by Nanyang Technological University (NTU) Singapore’s Maritime Energy and Sustainable Development (MESD) centre, reviews existing certification schemes such as ISCC, RSB, RenovaBio, California’s LCFS, and the US RFS as potential models for IMO’s framework. Notably, the report was reviewed by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) before its publication, signaling significant regulatory interest in its findings.
Implementing chemical testing and a central database against double-counting would introduce a new layer of verification beyond current documentation practices. This shift could lead to more robust, scientifically-backed assurance for green fuel origins, potentially increasing compliance costs and operational complexity for suppliers and operators in the green fuel supply chain.
The push to cap or phase out high-ILUC (indirect land-use change) crop feedstocks could also reshape the demand landscape for specific biofuel types, influencing investment and development towards lower-impact alternatives. The active engagement from a major port authority like Singapore’s MPA suggests that these recommendations may soon influence national and international policy, moving beyond voluntary standards to mandated verification methods for marine fuels.
