Bunkering Services Initiative marks the start of operations across the ARA region
LONDON: A group of leading companies officially launched the Bunkering Services Initiative (Initiative) across Amsterdam–Rotterdam–Antwerp (ARA) ports with operations having been conducted since December 1, 2025.
The Initiative, which is voluntary and open to any third party, introduces a new gold standard of bunkering operations with technology-enabled, verifiable, and traceable insights into fuel quantity and quality to bring greater transparency and efficiency to participating companies and to help address long-standing problems across the industry.
Founding participants, from both the buying and supplying sides of the ARA bunker market, together account for a meaningful share of activity in the region and include: bp Marine, Cargill, Frontline, Hafnia, Hapag‑Lloyd, Mercuria, Minerva Bunkering, Oldendorff, Trafigura, TFG Marine, Unifeeder, and Vitol, as well as other significant industry players. Lloyd’s Register will act as system auditor carrying out checks on barges, while ADP Clear Pte Ltd will be its technology partner for multi-party workflows, real-time reporting and verifiable performance metrics.
The launch ceremony, which took place at the headquarters of Lloyd’s Register (LR) in London, marks the start of operations for a system designed to deliver unprecedented levels of transparency, accountability, and efficiency in one of the world’s largest marine fuel hubs. It was attended by representatives from the founding companies, new participants, port authorities, and other industry stakeholders, demonstrating the scale and significance of this uniquely cross-industry and collaborative approach.
Following its unveiling in July 2025, the Initiative’s supplier participants have onboarded bunker barges, installed Internet-of-Things (IoT) enabled hardware, and had crew trained in the Initiative’s protocols and mass flow meter (MFM) operational best practices.
All bunker barges have certified MFMs installed and integrated with ADP Clear’s hardware and software to allow seamless, real-time data capture. Every vessel has met LR’s qualification requirements and will remain subject to unannounced compliance inspections of the MFM system, piping, and seals.
The major fuel testing companies are providing laboratory results directly into the platform providing buyers with visibility into fuel quality from every sample drawn from each parcel of fuel from shore tank through final delivery, as required by the BSI standards.
Andy Mckeran, LR’s Chief Growth Officer, said: “LR has always championed innovation that strengthens confidence in the maritime industry, and this Initiative is a natural progression of that commitment. By combining advanced technology with independent assurance, we are helping to deliver a new level of transparency and trust that supports safe, efficient and future-ready fuel operations.”
Jens Maul Jorgensen, Director of Bunker Purchasing at Oldendorff, said: “We welcome the introduction of the Bunkering Services Initiative and the opportunity it creates for greater transparency and cooperation between buyers and suppliers in the ARA region. We look forward to working with our partners to ensure safe, efficient and reliable bunkering operations,”.
Kenneth Dam, Executive Director and Global Head of Bunkering at TFG Marine said: “Since 2021, the industry has advocated for ISO 22192 standards for MFM implementation in the Ports of Antwerp and Rotterdam, set for January 2026. The BSI launch represents a decisive step by suppliers committed to eliminating market distortions, whilst aligning standards as closely as possible with Singapore. The BSI provides a strong framework for integrity, efficiency and compliance across international markets.”
Tyler Baron, CEO of Minerva Bunkering said: “The BSI combines standardization, technology, and regulation to create a level playing field with robust competition on the basis of service quality and cost competitiveness.”
Simon Lock, Head of Technology at ADP Clear said: “By integrating mass flow meters, blockchain workflows, and live reporting into a single platform, we’ve created a seamless chain of transparency. This level of visibility in bunkering has simply not existed before.”
About the Bunkering Services Initiative
The Bunkering Services Initiative was developed through voluntary collaboration among certain physical marine fuel buyers and suppliers, with the purpose of addressing known challenges in fuel quantity consistency and quality transparency. The Initiative sets out open standards available to any organisation that wishes to adopt them.
Founding participants, from both the buying and supplying sides of the ARA bunker market, together account for a meaningful share of activity in the region and include:
bp Marine, Cargill, Frontline, Hafnia, Hapag‑Lloyd, Mercuria, Minerva Bunkering, Oldendorff, Trafigura, TFG Marine, Unifeeder, and Vitol, as well as other significant industry players.
Designed as a self‑regulating framework supported by independent auditing, the operating model combines advanced measurement and data systems with continuous oversight:
- Mass Flow Meters (MFM): Integrated with digital systems for precise quantity measurement.
- Blockchain Workflows: Secure, multi‑party transaction records enabling full transparency.
- Fuel Quality Tracking: Traceable and verifiable across the supply chain.
- Quantity Balance Accounting: Complete reconciliation of delivered vs. supplied volumes.
- Real‑Time Reporting: Instant visibility for buyers and suppliers on operational and compliance metrics.
- Independent System Auditing: Ongoing qualification and inspection of participating bunker barges by Lloyd’s Register.
Any marine fuel buyers and suppliers engaged in the ARA market and interested in participating in the Initiative can direct their inquiries to initiative@adpclear
About Lloyd’s Register
Trusted maritime and energy sector advisors, partnering with clients to drive performance across the ocean economy.
Lloyd’s Register (LR) is a global professional services group specialising in marine and offshore engineering, technology and digital solutions. We were created more than 260 years ago as the world’s first marine classification society to improve and set standards for the safety of ships. We were created more than 260 years ago as the world’s first marine classification society to improve and set standards for the safety of ships.
Today we are a leading provider of classification and compliance services to the marine and offshore industries, helping our clients design, construct and operate their assets to accepted levels of safety and environmental compliance.
Our digital solutions are relied upon by more than 30,000 vessels, following the acquisition of OneOcean in 2022 and Ocean Technologies Group in 2024.
In the race to zero emissions, our research, advisory and technical expertise and industry-firsts are supporting a safe, sustainable maritime energy transition.
Lloyd’s Register Group is wholly owned by the Lloyd’s Register Foundation, a politically and financially independent global charity that promotes safety and education.