Singapore-based Junma Services is a leading name in marine engine services and a front-runner in shipping eco-solutions. Managing Director Ma Yulin divulged the latest company news, in an exclusive interview with Inside Marine. Report by Imogen Ward and Colin Chinery.
ASthe world’s biggest maritime hub with state-of-the-art infrastructure, Singapore is a major player in the growing ship repair and maintenance services market.
With vessels becoming larger and more sophisticated, the need for specialised repair services is intensifying. 18 years of
expansion saw Singapore-based Junma Services become a leading name in marine engine services.
Delivering some of the most comprehensive two- and four-stroke marine engine repair and automation services available, Junma’s premier portfolio includes engine docking and repair, genuine spares,
troubleshooting, consultancy, decarbonisation solutions-based innovations, CII and Rightship rating improvement.
Solutions to complexity
With expertise comparable to that of engine makers, Junma’s engineers analyse, repair and monitor complex engine defects, a core team part of a worldwide warehouse and service network including China, Middle East, India, Europe, the USA and Brazil.
“We are dedicated to meeting the needs of our customers, delivering reliable and efficient services, and high-quality technical support,” Managing Director Ma Yulin said.
And with turnover doubling in the last two years, Mr Ma attributes the company’s focus on establishing long-term relationships with clients as key to its continued success.
Junma had been authorised as a marine engine repairer and sales agent by engine makers such as HHM, CSIC Diesel Engine Co, which combined Dalian Marine Diesel, Yichang Marine Diesel Engine, and Qingdao
Haixi Marine Diesel for MAN engines, as well as WinGD and J-Engines. In addition, Junma was also an authorised service and spares provider of Shaanxi Diesel Engine Heavy Industry for its MAN, MTU, SEMT Pielstick and Daihatsu until CSIC and CSSC regrouped.
“We serve a broad range of clients catering from normal maintenance to highly complex troubleshooting, mainly for dry dock projects and emergencies,” said Mr Ma. “These customers – among the elite of ship owners and ship managers – include AET, Anglo-Eastern, OSMThome, BergeBulk, CMA CGM, Evergreen and many more.”
With the shipping industry’s race to ecocompliance, Junma’s technical expertise is honed to the demands for a greener industry. After a big success in launching EEXI-EPL service package and completed around 700 vessels installation – it is now offering customers more decarbonisation options that reduce carbon emissions though optimised engine performance and reduced fuel oil consumption: a key issue at Posidonia 2024.
Here, decarbonisation will be on the radar more intensely than ever, with the industry debating ways of achieving targets in the race to comply with sustainability directives.
At the forefront
With new technologies showcased and fuel options analysed, Junma will be at the forefront, providing clients with engine de-rating and eVIT solutions, enabling fuel savings and improving CII/Rightship rating.
“While we were providing EEXI-EPL solution to clients, we noticed that many vessels suffered from huge load restriction due to regulations that engine must work in the un-optimised load,” said Mr Ma. “The result of this is although overall carbon emission reduced, the specific fuel consumption (fuel needed per kWh) increased significantly. We began the De-Rating project in 2023, first showcased at the Hamburg Maritime Forum in April 2023.
“To de-rate the overpowered vessels the fuel saving can be huge. We calculate for large container vessels, annual savings of 4-5 million USD can be expected directly from fuel costs. If other add-on solutions (shaft generator and high efficiency propeller) are considered, then the saving can be 6-7 million.”
Another simplified solution achieves 2-4 g/kWh fuel saving through VIT optimisation on the main engine. This solution applies to all MC and ME.
Junma has many options to help customers reduce carbon emissions, according to Mr Ma: “We have now become the authorised agent for CM Technologies, a leading global provider
of condition monitoring and testing technology solutions, machinery condition monitoring and fuel and lube oil analysis.
“We need those tools to help our customers secure the best engine performance – the only way to achieve lower fuel consumption.”
Vibrant partnerships
The CM-Junma partnership is already paying off. “Last October our joint two teams visited many customers here in Singapore and gained an understanding of their requirements and we are already getting orders,” said Mr Ma. “The demand for CM products is huge and the potential is great.
“For customers interested in their end performance, we can assess their data
online, get real-time data and advise them on the issues they are facing or how they can reduce their consumption or improve their engine performance.”
Other ongoing developments include investment in engine cylinder liner reconditioning. “Most of the costs of
maintenance is in the cylinder unit, with the piston rings and liners needing to be changed,” Mr Ma said.
Often made of around 10 tonnes of steel, these components wear out within 10 years and result in major costs not only for the client, but also for the environment.
“We have completed two phases of the project and are now looking for customers to trial it on their ships,” Mr Ma continued. “We expect this methodology will be certified in the next five to six years.
“We are also working to help reduce our customers’ cylinder oil consumption, having co-developed specially coated piston rings. We now have several interested parties for this, including a major player within the market.”
Junma is also benefiting from a brand-new workshop in joint venture with IMC-SY Shipyard, which began operation in December last year. According to Mr Ma, this workshop has provided an excellent opportunity to collaborate: “The workshop
was developed to advance our ability to provide high-end engine services.
“The entire workshop is shared amongst several parties and will support the needs of our neighbouring shipyards in the Zhoushan area. As the main partner in this workshop, we are incredibly excited about this development.”
Focus for the future
“We continue to focus on our service quality and our level of expertise, while continuing to develop new capabilities and products to better serve our customers and their vessel fleets,” Mr Ma said.
A highly experienced marine engineer, Mr Ma has a strong decades-long background in shipbuilding, operations and inspection, with expertise in maintenance and repair, and international shipping.
“I have never worked without an engine, and my driving force is to achieve progress, improve performance, collaborating with our clients to help them make things better. And I will never stop doing so,” said Mr Ma, in conclusion. “Junma is a trustworthy brand with growth ambitions.
“We strive to be more than just a service provider, we aim to be a solution provider, delivering innovative and effective solutions to our customers, helping them achieve their business goals.”
Strong vibrant partnerships – a key factor in Junma’s success – have evolved into an immensely strong global network. “We collaborate with many workshops around the world – in Europe, USA, Brazil, Africa, India and Australia – each supporting one another,” Mr Ma added. “This has helped us a lot. You could fly an engineering team to Panama or somewhere, of course, but that’s very costly and not a very good solution. But now, since we have these localised networks, we are benefiting greatly.”
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