Chevron Charters First Hybrid Electric Bunker Tanker in Singapore

Chevron is chartering its first hybrid electric bunker tanker—a vessel that fuels other ships. The tanker arrived at Singapore facilities last summer.

The hybrid ship will provide maritime customers in the region with Chevron fuel.

The bunker tanker is expected to consume approximately 20% less fuel compared to a conventional tanker as it goes about its operations, which can reduce emissions and costs.

“It’s also helping us take a step forward in our objective to deliver lower carbon and higher returns,” said Nayab Karimi, trading manager for fuels in Asia Pacific.

The barge also provides an opportunity to assess wider adoption of hybrid vessels, said Jennifer Chao, Chevron’s Asia Pacific Commercial Marine Manager.

How it Works

Similar to a hybrid electric car, the vessel has an electric power system as well as an engine that runs on fuel. It will supplement with electricity during periods of high consumption to allow the engines to reduce fuel use.

Instead of three auxiliary engines, as a conventional fueling barge this size would have, the barge has two auxiliary engines and an electric power distribution system.

Current technology doesn’t allow barges to run completely on electricity, and among other challenges, the batteries would take up too much space, said Varun Kohli, Chevron’s term charterer in Asia Pacific. A battery pack is just slightly smaller than a 20-foot shipping container.

“As technology comes along and batteries become smaller and more efficient, hopefully in the not-too-distant future, we’ll have bunker tankers able to operate fully on batteries,” added Varun Kohli.

The vessel has the potential to use onshore charging facilities included in Singapore’s electrification plans. Powering up batteries without the need for fuel could further reduce fossil fuel consumption in this hard-to-abate sector.

Chevron is chartering the barge from V-Bunkers, the company that owns and operates the vessel.