China: Zhoushan completes pilot bonded bunkering op with mass flow meter

Zhoushan successfully concluded a successful pilot for the bunkering of bonded fuel oil using a mass flow meter at Xiushandong Anchorage on 9 December, according to the Zhoushan Hi-Tech Zone Administrative Committee on Wednesday (11 December). 

Bunkering barge Dong Fang Zhao Yang, owned by Zhejiang Free Trade Zone Dongfang Tongzhou Maritime Service Supply, successfully refuelled Panama-flagged bulk carrier Ocean Road with 1,649.5 metric tonnes (mt) of bonded fuel oil.

According to the Zhoushan Hi-Tech Zone Administrative Committee, the use of mass flow meter in bonded bunkering operations can effectively reduce trade measurement disputes, further improve the efficiency of bunkering operations and barge turnover, reduce the waiting time of international ships, and promote the “refuel and depart” procedure for foreign ships.

The pilot marked a milestone for Zhoushan to further achieve its goal to become a world first-class ship refuelling port and enhance its international competitiveness.

Zhoushan started to study and launch the pilot certification of whitelisted barges that will be fitted with a mass flow meter bunkering system in September.

As one of first bunker barges to participate in the certification, Dong Fang Zhao Yang passed a test by Singapore’s Metcore International Pte Ltd on 11 October and successfully obtained the mass flow meter system certification under the ISO22192:2021 standard, laying a solid foundation for the next step in realising the use of mass flow meter data as the basis for bonded bunker fuel delivery.

Since Dong Fang Zhao Yang obtaining the international certification in October, it has used the mass flow meter delivery method to complete two orders, totalling 2,529.1 mt of high-sulphur fuel oil.

Xiushandong Anchorage has ranked first in bunkering out of the five bonded bunkering major anchorages in Zhoushan, becoming the most popular anchorage in the city among international shipowners.

According to statistics released by Zhoushan Hi-Tech Zone Administrative Committee, the anchorage has achieved 540,000 mt of bunkering volume from January to July this year, a year-on-year increase of 53.5% from the same period last year.

Related: China: CPCA announces whitelist of ships to be fitted with mass flowmeter
Related: China: Xiushandong Anchorage ranks first in bonded bunkering volume in Zhoushan

Photo credit: MarineTraffic/Peter Beentjes
Published: 18 December, 2024