What is Bunker in Shipping?
Bunker refers to the fuel used by ships for propulsion and onboard power generation. The term comes from the coal bunkers used on early steamships. Today, ship bunkers are primarily heavy fuel oil (HFO), marine diesel oil (MDO), marine gas oil (MGO), or increasingly LNG (liquefied natural gas) for newer vessels.
Types of Bunker Fuel
- HFO (Heavy Fuel Oil / IFO) — traditional high-sulphur fuel, being phased out post-IMO 2020
- VLSFO (Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil) — max 0.5% sulphur, mandatory since IMO 2020
- MGO (Marine Gas Oil) — cleaner distillate fuel for use in ECAs
- LNG — zero-sulphur alternative for dual-fuel vessels
Bunkering in UAE — Fujairah
Fujairah, UAE is consistently ranked among the world's top 3 bunkering ports globally, alongside Singapore and Rotterdam. Its strategic location outside the Strait of Hormuz makes it a major hub for vessels bunkering before or after Gulf transits.
