Britannia P&I Club has emphasized the importance of understanding the various bunker delivery methods and establishing reliable, transparent relationships with reputable suppliers.
According to Britannia, bunker quantity disputes pose a common challenge in the maritime industry, arising from disagreements between the supplier and the receiver regarding the amount of bunker fuel delivered. These disputes can lead to significant operational and financial consequences for shipowners and operators.
In light of this, Britannia advises that before initiating the bunkering operation, owners/ships should verify and reasonably ensure compliance with the following:
– Confirmation of bunker details: The ship should confirm with the owner’s office and/or charterer the specific grade and quantity of bunkers to be received, including
the identity of the bunker supplier/barge (by IMO identification).
– Bunker plan: The ship should develop a thorough bunker plan, which includes details such as the bunker tank(s) to be used (always aim to load into empty bunker tanks), the sequence for filling the tanks, allocations for different grades of fuel, transfer rates, procedures for topping up and the condition of the fuel oil overflow tank (typically kept empty during bunkering operations). In some cases, the bunker plan must be approved by the shipping company before bunkering can proceed.
– Compliance with Safety Management System (SMS): Adherence to the owner’s SMS procedures for bunkering, including the completion of thorough risk assessment
prior to the operation.
– Pre-bunkering meetings: Conduct pre-bunkering meetings to align the ship’s crew internally and another involving the bunker barge’s crew, which includes the preparation and completion of a bunker checklist. The ship must confirm the agreed pumping rate with the bunker supplier to prevent misunderstanding and ensure
a controlled bunkering operation.
– Tank calibration and sounding: Ensure valid tank calibration and sounding tables are available to facilitate tank calculations and figure reconciliation, which may involve a third-party inspector.
– Bunker survey: Consider including the nomination of a bunker surveyor/inspector as a requirement in the charter party terms to independently verify the quantities delivered and received by the barge and vessel. These should fall within an acceptable tolerance, typically set at 0.5% or as otherwise commercially agreed. In cases of quantity discrepancies, the surveyor should conduct an independent investigation to determine the cause of the discrepancy and assist with the sampling and sealing.
_ Recording of bunkering events: The ship should document all relevant/significant events during the bunkering operation, including start/stop times, flow rates and any unforeseen stoppages.
Download the guidance: Bunkering Precautions 2024