IMOS (Integrated Marine Operating System) has recently enhanced its capability to support ten types of fuel. This change, which has expanded from six types of fuel to ten, has been made to align with the growing complexities in shipping operations and the need for accurate information regarding different fuels.
A Transformation in the Fuel Landscape
In recent years, significant changes have been observed in the types of fuels used in ships. By 2018, heavy fuel oil accounted for about 79% of the international shipping fuel consumption. However, with the reduction of the sulfur cap from 3.50% to 0.50% by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in 2020, the fuel market changed rapidly. For instance, at the Port of Singapore, the world's largest bunkering port, the share of low-sulfur fuel increased from less than 1% in 2018 to 63% in 2020.
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With the introduction of scrubber systems, high-sulfur heavy fuel made a comeback, and by 2023, the share of high-sulfur fuel oil (HSFO) reached 29.5% of all fuels tested by Veritas Petroleum Services (VPS). Alongside this, the share of very low-sulfur fuel oil (VLSFO) was 54.3% and the share of marine gas oil (MGO) was 14.2%.
The Impact of Regulations on the Expansion of Fuel Types
The new regulations that were the driving force behind previous changes are now being implemented to create new changes. Two new carbon schemes were introduced in 2026; the EU ETS scheme, which from January 1, 2026, includes methane and nitrogen oxides, and the UK ETS scheme, which started on July 1, 2026, for domestic shipping. Additionally, the IMO's carbon neutrality framework is still under negotiation, with voting expected to take place in December 2026.
As a result of these developments, ships can no longer rely solely on one type of fuel. Operators need current and historical data on the fuel required for each ship. This need for accurate data and information has compelled IMOS to change and expand its capacity.
Now, with the increased capacity for fuel types in IMOS, operators can add new fuel types to the system and update their ships with these fuels. These changes also allow operators to avoid creating additional work to comply with their new fuels and provide more accurate information on planning, consumption, and fuel costs for multi-fuel ships that can use up to ten different types of fuel.
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