Independent research and consultancy firm CE Delft published a report this month on the reliability of the quantity of bunkers supplied to the Port of Rotterdam and the Port of Antwerp-Bruges.
The firm said various parties in the bunker chain have informed both the Port of Rotterdam and the Port of Antwerp-Bruges that there are problems regarding the supply of bunker fuels.
“There are regular disputes between the bunker transporter and ships about the amount of fuel supplied,” it said.
“To investigate the extent and nature of these complaints, both the (State) Harbour Master and the Ports of Rotterdam and Antwerp-Bruges commissioned CE Delft to investigate the experiences of the parties active in the bunker market at both ports.”
The purpose of the projects is to obtain an objective view of any quantity problems in the supply of bunkers at the ports.
“In addition, both port authorities would like insight into the contribution and mandatory use of a mass flow metre bunkering system on board bunker vessels towards solving these potential quantity problems in the Port of Rotterdam,” the firm added.
The results of this study are based on extensive consultation with all types of parties active in the bunker market in Rotterdam and/or Antwerp-Bruges.
Manifold Times previously reported both port authorities announcing they will mandate the use of a bunker measuring system (such as a Mass Flow Meter) on board bunker vessels to measure the exact amount of fuel delivered to sea-going vessels.
Both said they were told from different sides that there would be regular problems regarding the supply of bunker fuels.
To investigate the extent and nature of these complaints, the port authorities commissioned CE Delft to look into the experiences of the parties involved in the bunker market. This study was conducted through interviews and surveys.
The conclusion is twofold: there are similarities between the two ports and there are structural quantity problems in the bunker market. 80-90% of the survey respondents recognise the issues outlined.
65% of stakeholders interviewed and over 90% of survey respondents see the introduction of the mandatory use of an official bunker measuring system on board bunker vessels as a solution to quantity problems. A bunker measuring system measures the amount of fuel delivered in real time rather than calculating it from tank level measurements on board the bunker vessel (the methodology currently used as standard).
Note: The full report titled “Reliability of the quantity of bunkers supplied to the Port of Rotterdam and the Port of Antwerp-Bruges” is currently only available in Dutch here.
Related: Bunker fuel measuring system to be made mandatory in Antwerp, Zeebrugge and Rotterdam
Related: IBIA welcomes mandatory bunker measuring systems in major ARA ports and calls for more ports to follow suit
Related: Rotterdam keen to improve its bunkering sector, is hot on the heels of Singapore’s MFM mandatory adoption|
Related: IBIA welcomes news of Rotterdam’s plans to mandate MFMs
Photo credit: Port of Rotterdam Authority
Published: 7 February, 2023
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