Panel members consisting of Singapore’s maritime and port regulator Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), legal firm Rajah & Tann, bunker trading firm Sing Fuels, and the International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA) discussed the complexities of maritime decarbonisation at APPEC 2026 on Thursday (10 September). The panel Balancing the Bunker Fuel Mix on the Path to Decarbonization moderated by John Morley, Global Director, Crude and Fuel Oil Markets, S&P Global Energy explored the complex landscape of maritime decarbonisation, sanctions fragmentation, and the transition to alternative marine fuels in Singapore. Panellists broadly agree regulatory clarity – particularly from the International Maritime Organization (IMO) – is the single most critical enabler for large-scale investment, whilst highlighting regional fragmentation, crew competency gaps, and trade finance constraints pose significant near-term challenges. Biofuels were seen as the most immediately scalable alternative marine fuel, with methanol and ammonia as longer-term prospects. The following points were raised by panel members during discussion: New Wei Siang, Director, Maritime Decarbonisation & Net-Zero Pathways, MPA , advocated for a global, IMO-led regulatory framework to guide shipping’s decarbonisation. He believed regional patchwork regulations create unhelpful uncertainty, whereas a unified approach would be more helpful for long-term investment. While acknowledging progress at recent IMO inter-sessional meetings held in September has been “slow but deliberate,” he remains focused on the upcoming MEPC 85 scheduled from November 30 to December 3, 2026. To address the technical and safety challenges of new bunker fuels, he pointed out the MPA has established the Maritime Energy Training Facility (METF) to upskill crews on handling future marine fuels including methanol. Furthermore, the MPA has launched ten green and digital shipping corridor partnerships to trial