Simms Showers Principal Steve Simms examines how force majeure clauses apply in the bunker (marine fuel) industry, especially amid geopolitical disruptions like the 2026 Middle East conflict. Force majeure allows parties to avoid or suspend contractual obligations when extraordinary, unforeseeable events occur—but only if the contract clearly defines those events.

Steve Simms writes that the US bunkering market in 2025 is shaped by political disengagement from global climate policy combined with continued domestic fuel intervention. While the US has withdrawn from IMO climate negotiations, bunker suppliers operating in the US must still meet IMO and EU requirements to serve globally trading vessels. The near-term US fuel strategy favors LNG and biofuels, alongside continued use of compliant conventional fuels.

Steve Simms looks at how and why bunker suppliers and traders could take a leading role in promoting the use of onboard carbon capture.

Steve Simms explores the transition from traditional paper-based bunker delivery notes (BDNs) to electronic bunker delivery notes (eBDNs) in the maritime industry.

In this article, Steve Simms urges bunker traders and suppliers to take notice, as nuclear power has now arrived in their industry.

Steve Simms emphasizes the importance for bunker traders and suppliers to "look ahead constantly" due to rapidly changing sanctions laws, particularly around Venezuelan, Russian, Iranian, and North Korean oil products.

In this article, Steve Simms details global bunkering industry’s increasing shift towards sustainability, with biofuels playing a key role in reducing vessel carbon emissions. However, as the demand for biofuels rises, fraudulent activities and disputes within the industry are also becoming more prevalent.

In the most recent issue of World Bunkering Magazine, Steve Simms addresses patents and new fuels – and what bunker suppliers, traders and their customers must consider about them now.