Bunkering Services Initiative introduces verifiable, technology-driven bunkering standards
Uniting buyers, suppliers, and auditors to set a new benchmark across the ARA region
London, United Kingdom | December 15, 2025 – A consortium of leading marine fuel buyers and suppliers has officially launched the Bunkering Services Initiative (BSI), marking the start of live operations across the Amsterdam–Rotterdam–Antwerp (ARA) region—one of the world’s largest and most strategically important marine fuel hubs.
Operations under the Initiative have been underway since December 1, 2025, following months of preparation, onboarding, and system deployment. The launch represents a landmark moment for the bunkering industry, introducing unprecedented levels of transparency, accountability, and operational integrity through technology-enabled, verifiable, and traceable data on fuel quantity and quality.
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A New Gold Standard for Bunkering Operations
The Bunkering Services Initiative is a voluntary, open framework, available to any third party wishing to participate. It establishes a new benchmark for bunkering by addressing long-standing industry challenges related to fuel measurement, documentation, trust, and efficiency.
By combining digital transformation, advisory services, statutory compliance, and independent assurance, the Initiative delivers end-to-end visibility across the bunkering process—from shore tank to final delivery onboard the receiving vessel.
At its core, the Initiative provides:
- Verified fuel quantity measurement
- Full traceability of fuel quality
- Real-time data capture and reporting
- Independent auditing and compliance oversight
Together, these elements aim to restore confidence, reduce disputes, and improve efficiency across the ARA bunker market.
Broad Industry Backing Across Buyers and Suppliers
The Initiative was developed collaboratively by leading participants from both the buying and supplying sides of the ARA bunker market. Collectively, the founding participants represent a meaningful share of regional bunkering activity, underscoring the scale and seriousness of the effort.
Bunkering Services Initiative (BSI) Founding participants include:
| Buyer Participants (e.g.) | Supplier Participants (e.g.) |
| Cargill | bp Marine |
| Frontline | Mercuria |
| Hafnia | Minerva Bunkering |
| Hapag‑Lloyd | Trafigura |
| Oldendorff | TFG Marine |
| Unifeeder | Vitol |
- alongside other significant industry players
Lloyd’s Register (LR) has been appointed as system auditor, responsible for independent checks and assurance on bunker barges.
while ADP Clear Pte Ltd serves as the Initiative’s technology partner, delivering multi-party workflows, real-time reporting, and verifiable performance metrics.
Official Launch at Lloyd’s Register Headquarters
The formal launch ceremony was held at Lloyd’s Register headquarters in London, bringing together representatives from founding companies, newly onboarded participants, port authorities, and a broad range of industry stakeholders.
The event marked the official transition from development to live operations, highlighting the Initiative’s uniquely collaborative and cross-industry nature. Attendance from across the value chain reflected the recognition that systemic change in bunkering can only be achieved through shared standards and collective action.
Technology, Verification, and Independent Oversight
Following the Initiative’s unveiling in July 2025, supplier participants undertook extensive operational preparation:
- Bunker barges were onboarded
- Internet-of-Things (IoT) enabled hardware installed
- Crew trained in BSI protocols and mass flow meter (MFM) operational best practices
All participating bunker barges are now equipped with certified MFMs, fully integrated with ADP Clear’s hardware and software platform, enabling seamless, real-time data capture during bunkering operations.
Every vessel has met Lloyd’s Register qualification requirements and remains subject to unannounced compliance inspections, covering:
- MFM systems
- Associated piping
- Sealing arrangements
This ongoing oversight ensures continuous compliance, not just one-time certification.
End-to-End Fuel Quality Transparency
A key differentiator of the Initiative is its integration of fuel quality data directly into the digital platform.
Major fuel testing companies now provide laboratory results directly into the system, giving buyers complete visibility into fuel quality for:
- Every sample
- Every fuel parcel
- From shore tank through final delivery
This level of traceability, mandated by BSI standards, closes long-standing information gaps and significantly reduces the potential for disputes.
Industry Leaders Weigh In
Andy McKeran, Chief Growth Officer at Lloyd’s Register, 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, commented “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, added “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, highlighted the technological breakthrough “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.”
A Turning Point for the Global Bunkering Industry
With live operations now underway in the ARA region, the Bunkering Services Initiative represents one of the most significant structural advances in bunkering in decades. By aligning technology, standards, and independent assurance, the Initiative lays the groundwork for a more transparent, efficient, and trusted global bunker market.
As adoption grows, the framework developed in ARA is expected to influence future bunkering practices well beyond Europe, setting a reference point for other major fuel hubs worldwide.
About Lloyd’s Register
Lloyd’s Register (LR) is a leading international classification society and professional advisory services organization, dedicated to enhancing safety, quality, and sustainability across the maritime, energy, and industrial sectors customers in over 75 countries worldwide. Founded in 1760, LR supports clients throughout the asset lifecycle, providing independent assurance, technical expertise, and digital solutions.
In the Bunkering Services Initiative, Lloyd’s Register acts as system auditor, carrying out independent checks on bunker barges and ensuring ongoing compliance through inspections of mass flow meter systems, piping, and sealing arrangements.
Source: Lloyd’s Register