Connect with us

Environment

IBIA: MEPC 77 to discuss mandatory flashpoint on the BDN

‘In short, we cannot see reasonable justification for requiring a flashpoint value to be recorded on the BDN (unlike sulphur and density),’ says IBIA.
Admin

Published

5 years ago

on

IBIA

The International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA) on Sunday (21 November) released a post stating its position over the inclusion of the flashpoint parameter on the BDN:

Appendix V of MARPOL Annex VI requires sulphur content and density to be included in the bunker delivery note. Should inclusion of flashpoint also be made mandatory?

The 77th session of the IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 77) which meets 22-26 November, is expected to consider draft amendments to amend Appendix V – Information to be included in the bunker delivery note (Regulation 18.5) by adding Flashpoint (°C) to the list of information, below  Sulphur content (% m/m).

It follows deliberations in a correspondence group a while back, and is linked to parallel work at the IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) amid concerns that the IMO 2020 sulphur limit would lead to a significant increase in flashpoint off-specs. The SOLAS Convention requires fuels to have a minimum 60°C flashpoint.

IBIA has participated in both the MEPC and MSC work on this subject, and has been among the few objecting to this all along, for the following reasons:

A – Flashpoint (FP) has to be above 60°C both under SOLAS and ISO 8217 and hence no fuel with FP below this limit should be released for supply in the first place.

B – Very few fuels with FP below the limit (off-specs) are supplied and even when this has happened, very little evidence has been seen that it has caused explosions/fires on ships (unless the FP is extremely low, which is very rare). Most fuel-related fire incidents on ships have been caused by autoignition rather than the fuel’s FP.

C– Unlike sulphur and density, which are currently the only quality parameters required on the BDN, as long as FP it is above the 60°C minimum limit, it should have no bearing on operation of the ship. 

Accurate sulphur content, however, is needed to calculate fuel changeover between ECA and non-ECA areas. 

Density has a bearing on the operation of the ship (fuel treatment) and in determining fuel quantity. 

Flashpoint, meanwhile, does not have a bearing on operation of the ship as normal fire and explosion risk safety procedures should still be observed even if the FP is above 60°C.

D – It is normal practice prior to releasing fuel oil for marine use to stop the FP test once a FP above 70°C has been established as it is then safe to say that the 60°C minimum limit has been met. 

To require FP to be reported accurately if above 60°C would require testing to go on beyond establishing that the limit has been met, which is of little or no use.

E – We do not believe adding mandatory flashpoint reporting to the BDN under appendix V in MARPOL Annex VI would make any real difference to the number of 60°C off-specs. FP above 60°C is already guaranteed by the provision of Material Safety Data Sheets required by SOLAS and commercial contracts based on ISO 8217, which also stipulate a minimum 60°C flashpoint limit for residual and distillate marine fuels.

F – If it is felt that the BDN must do more to ensure suppliers make every effort to provide fuel complying with the 60°C flashpoint limit in SOLAS, we would propose instead to amend the declaration by the fuel oil suppliers representative to certify compliance, as follows (amendments shown as strikethrough and underlined text):

“A declaration signed and certified by the fuel oil supplier’s representative that the fuel oil supplied is in conformity with regulation 14(1) or (4)(a), regulation 18(1) of this Annex, and regulation SOLAS II-2/4.2.1“

In short, we cannot see reasonable justification for requiring a flashpoint value to be recorded on the BDN (unlike sulphur and density), while the safety aspect is already well covered in existing SOLAS provisions and in ISO 8217.

Moreover, MSC is likely to adopt SOLAS amendments calling for mandatory reporting of confirmed cases where suppliers have provided non-compliant fuel, and calling for authorities to “take action as appropriate” against suppliers if they do.

For more information, please click on this link

Related: MEPC 77: Governments to decide on ICS USD 5 billion R&D fund to accelerate decarbonisation goals
Related: MEPC 77: IMO must rapidly cut emissions of black carbon from shipping, says Clean Arctic Alliance
Related: IMO schedules remote session of Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 77)

 

Photo credit and source: International Bunker Industry Association
Published: 25 November, 2021

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

Environment

Indonesia to expedite removal of sunken Malaysia-flagged tanker “Silver Sincere”

Vessel sank while carrying about 1,000 mt of waste oil on 12 January 2025; the wreck was discovered in March 2025 and was found to have drifted about 13 nautical miles from its original sinking site.

Admin

Published

2 days ago

on

July 20, 2026

By

Indonesia to expedite removal of sunken Malaysia-flagged tanker “Silver Sincere”

Indonesia’s Coordinating Ministry for Political and Security Affairs on Tuesday (14 July) held a cross-agency coordination meeting to expedite efforts in handling the Malaysian-flagged tanker Silver Sincere that sank off Bintan Regency, Riau Islands.

The vessel sank while carrying about 1,000 metric tonnes (mt) of waste oil on 12 January 2025. 

According to authorities, the ship sank within Indonesian waters. After several surveys, the wreck was finally discovered in March 2025 and it was found to have shifted approximately 13 nautical miles from the initial sinking location.

The meeting was aimed to align cross-ministerial and institutional measures to expedite the handling of the Silver Sincere wreck while minimising risks to shipping safety, the marine environment, and national interests.

Deputy for Coordination of State Defense and National Unity Purwito Hadi Wardhono emphasised that the handling of the impact of the Silver Sincere sinking was the first case to be comprehensively coordinated, serving as a model for handling foreign vessels sinking within Indonesian jurisdiction.

Through this cross-sectoral coordination, the government will establish a clear and measurable framework that can serve as a reference for resolving similar cases in the future, while minimising state losses due to environmental pollution, damage to underwater ecosystems and infrastructure, and disruption to shipping lanes.

“The most important thing is to immediately stop and prevent the negative impacts of this ship sinking,” Purwito said.

“Therefore, a coordinating role is crucial, as maritime security governance involves various ministries and institutions with varying authorities, allowing for faster, more integrated, and more effective response,” he said. 

He added that the Silver Sincere was a Malaysian-flagged vessel that sank within Indonesian jurisdiction, and therefore, all handling processes must comply with the provisions of Indonesian laws and regulations.

In the meeting, Prof. Eko Ganis Sukoharsono, representing the SAE Energy Consulting Team, presented the results of an analysis based on 14 observation periods using Sentinel-1 Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite imagery. 

The analysis results showed strong indications of a waste oil spill that has resulted in marine pollution, damage to the seabed due to shifting shipwrecks, disruption of coastal ecosystems and fishing grounds, and potentially threatening the livelihoods of fishing communities around the Riau Islands. 

Purwito added these findings further emphasise the importance of accelerating the removal of the shipwrecks to prevent widespread environmental impacts, maintain shipping safety, and avoid the potential for greater state losses.

The meeting brought together representatives of related ministries and institutions including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Transportation, Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Ministry of Environment, Attorney General’s Office.  

Related: MPA: Malaysia-registered tanker “Silver Sincere” sinks off Pedra Branca

 

Photo credit: MarineTraffic / Julian T
Published: 20 July, 2026

Continue Reading

Methanol

China launches methanol shipping supply chain alliance to accelerate green transition

Marine fuel suppliers in the alliance include Sinopec Fuel Oil Sales, China Marine Bunker (PetroChina), SIPG Energy (Shanghai), and Shenzhen Port Energy Development.
Admin

Published

5 days ago

on

July 17, 2026

By

China Flag

China Waterborne Transport Research Institute under the Ministry of Transport and China Transport News recently jointly launched a Methanol Fuel Shipping Supply Chain Innovation Alliance with 20 organisations spanning the shipping, port, energy, equipment, research and industry association sectors.

The alliance was officially announced during the main event of China Maritime Day 2026 on 11 July, where members also released a joint initiative to develop a collaborative methanol-fuelled shipping supply chain.

The alliance aims to implement China’s national strategy for green economic transformation and support the Ministry of Transport’s “One Network, Four Modernisations” initiative by building a safe, efficient, economical and reliable methanol marine fuel supply chain

Under the joint initiative, alliance members pledged to align with China’s national decarbonisation strategy by promoting methanol as a key pathway for the shipping sector’s green transition and optimising the industry’s energy mix.

The members also pledged to strengthen collaboration across the supply chain to improve coordination between bunker fuel production, transportation and end users while advancing technological innovation.

Lastly, the alliance will support the development of policies, planning and technical standards, promote resource sharing and joint research, and accelerate the large-scale adoption of methanol as a marine fuel.

The alliance brings together companies and organisations representing the entire methanol shipping supply chain.

Members include shipping and port members such as China Changjiang National Shipping (Group) Corporation, COSCO Shipping Bulk Co., Ltd., Shandong Port Group, and Wuhan Chuangxin Jianghai Shipping Co., Ltd.

Energy companies in the alliance include Sinopec Chemical Commercial Holding Company Limited and Methanex Corporation.

Marine fuel suppliers including Sinopec Fuel Oil Sales, China Marine Bunker (PetroChina), SIPG Energy (Shanghai) Co Ltd and Shenzhen Port Energy Development Co Ltd are also part of the alliance. 

Equipment manufacturers in the alliance are CSSC 711th Research Institute, CSSC Power (Group) Corporation Ltd and Chongqing Hongjiang Machinery Co Ltd.

Research, media and industry organisations participating in the alliance include the China Waterborne Transport Research Institute, China Transport News, and the Methanol Institute.

The Methanol Institute said methanol is moving beyond individual projects towards coordinated action across the entire value chain. 

“And China continues to play a leading role in advancing methanol as a marine fuel,” it said in a social media post.  

“We’re proud to work alongside our fellow alliance members to help strengthen the methanol supply chain and support the continued growth of methanol as a marine fuel.”

 

Photo credit: David Yu from Pixabay
Published: 17 July, 2026

Continue Reading

Wind-assisted

DNV awards TADC to Econowind for VentoFoil 3-Series

System actively harnesses wind power to generate forward thrust, helping to reduce bunker fuel consumption and mitigate FuelEU penalties.
Admin

Published

5 days ago

on

July 17, 2026

By

DNV awards TADC to Econowind for VentoFoil 3-Series

Dutch wind-assisted propulsion technology firm Econowind on Wednesday (15 July) said it has received a Type Approval Design Certificate (TADC) from classification society DNV for its VentoFoil 3-Series boundary layer suction wing. 

The company said the certification confirms compliance with DNV’s ST-0511 standard for Wind-Assisted Propulsion Systems and enables easier integration of VentoFoils on DNV-classed vessels worldwide. 

Econowind added that the approval accelerates the deployment of wind propulsion across the shipping industry.

“DNV is one of the world’s leading classification societies. This TADC gives DNV-classed shipowners confidence that VentoFoils meet the highest industry standards,” said Chiel de Leeuw, Chief Commercial Officer at Econowind. 

“It simplifies the approval process for both retrofits and newbuilds. VentoFoils are ideal for late-stage design integration and retrofit projects. This is an important milestone for Econowind and for the wider adoption of wind-assisted ship propulsion.”

The 3-Series VentoFoil is Econowind’s best-selling suction wing to date, with over 150 units sold. The system actively harnesses wind power to generate forward thrust, helping to reduce fuel consumption and mitigate FuelEU penalties. The system includes a tilting foundation, allowing the wings to be tilted down during port operations or in adverse weather conditions, making it a flexible solution.

The TADC applies to the 16-meter VentoFoil 3-Series product design and supports easy integration into DNV-classed vessels without repeating the full design assessment process. This enables shipowners, shipyards, and project teams to move more efficiently from concept to installation, reducing project complexity and accelerating deployment. 

Hasso Hoffmeister, Senior Principal Engineer at DNV Maritime, said: “It is a great pleasure to award Econowind this new certificate. WAPS have been going from strength to strength over the past few years, from 2022 the number of vessels in operation has increased five times, and we’ve now topped the century mark. 

“And with the current advances in technology, materials, and production capacity in the segment, we expect this to accelerate. So, while the wind always changes, the shipping industry is likely to be sailing strong for years to come.”

Econowind expects the DNV Type Approval Design Certificate to accelerate adoption of the VentoFoil, particularly among shipowners seeking proven, independently certified technology that can support fuel savings, emissions reductions, and decarbonization goals.

MS Heinz of HS Schiffahrt is among the first vessels to sail under this TADC.The company said the approval builds on Econowind’s growing installed base and further strengthens confidence in wind-assisted ship propulsion as a practical solution to address energy scarcity and high fuel prices. 

In addition to the 3-Series, Econowind offers the 5-Series for the deep-sea market.

 

Photo credit: Econowind
Published: 17 July, 2026

Continue Reading

Trending