The Marine Fuel Industry Committee of the China Petroleum Circulation Association (CPCA) on Tuesday (24 September) announced a list of ships approved to be fitted with mass flowmeters (MFMs). 

CPCA held an annual meeting where the list of ships were released from 19 to 20 September. Bunker suppliers, state ministries, relevant leaders of industry associations and MFM manufacturers were present for the event. 

In his speech, Zheng Wen, President of CPCA, said the release of MFM standards and whitelist of ships are the first step in promoting the use of MFMs in China's ship fuel supply industry.

He added the milestone is of great significance to ensuring that China’s bunker suppliers operate in accordance with the law, promoting the standardised operation of measurement in the marine fuel industry, and maintaining the reputation of China's bunker fuel supply market. 

“It is hoped that in the subsequent promotion and use process, relevant units will be able to further improve the ship whitelist system, continuously enhance the promotion and use of MFM, expand the number of whitelists, and allow more oil supply ships that provide high-quality and efficient services to be recognized by the market,” he said.

The meeting solemnly released the first batch of whitelist ships that passed the standard review. Certificates were issued to operators of the ships. 

The following is the first batch of whitelisted ships that were approved to be fitted with a MFM:

1. ZHONG RAN 31
2. ZHONG RAN 33 
3. ZHONG RAN 39
4. HAI GONG YOU 31 
5. ZHAO YANG 503 
6. RUN ZE 11 
7. HONG DA HAI 88 
8. DONG FANG ZHAO YANG
9. HONG XIN 102
10. JIA CHENG 1

Mr. Wang Min, representative of China National Energy Shipping, said that the release of the list has given hope of solving the problem of bunker fuel quantity. 

Wang Liguo, Executive Director of the Marine Fuel Industry Committee of the CPCA and Chairman of China Marine Bunker (Petro China) (CHIMBUSCO), added it is hoped that all member units of the association will actively contribute to the green transformation of the ports and shipping industry, accelerate the planning and construction of the marine biofuel industry chain, actively participate in the construction of the clean bunker fuel industry chain, and to jointly build a sustainable future for green shipping.

Related: China: Bunker suppliers ink convention and cooperation deal at MFM Alliance Conference
Related: China: CPCA releases convention for bunkering industry to promote mass flow meter at conference
Related: China: Bunker suppliers among stakeholders convening for upcoming mass flow meter conference 

 

Photo credit: China Petroleum Circulation Association
Published: 25 September, 2024 

TFG Marine (TFG), the international marine fuel joint venture founded by Trafigura, Frontline and Golden Ocean, on Friday (23 July) said it has added a mass flow meter (MFM) to the 15th bunker tanker in its fleet.

The firm was recently on board its supply vessel, Sea Emperor in Walvis Bay, Namibia, to oversee the installation and verification of an ISO 22192-compliant mass flow meter, and to provide comprehensive training to the crew on its operation.

TFG Marine said the installation and training was done in collaboration with experts from Swiss-based mass flow meter manufacturers Endress+Hauser Group, and Singapore-based MFM system measurement solutions provider Metcore International Pte Ltd.

“This latest installation marks the 15th vessel in our fleet to be equipped with mass flow meter technology, ensuring our customers receive the most efficient, accurate, and fully transparent marine fuel deliveries available on the market,” the firm said in a social media post.

“At TFG Marine, we remain committed to setting the highest standards and leading the way in modern bunkering operations across every port where we operate.”

It said it was proud that all of its bunkering barges currently operating in Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) are equipped with ISO 22192- compliant MFMs.

“We are well on our way to achieving this across the majority of our supply fleet within the next two years,” it added.

 

Photo credit: TFG Marine
Published: 26 August, 2024

Manifold Times gained exclusive access into the mass flowmeter (MFM) production factory of Reinach-based Endress+Hauser Flow in Switzerland during February. This will be the third in a series of five articles produced offering behind-the-scenes glimpses of the intricate process on what goes into perfecting MFMs.

The following are key takeaways from the tour to understand more about the MFM calibration process:

The cornerstone is a particularly important reference point, setting the foundation of historical buildings, and ultimately determines the position of the entire structure. In similar significance, situated in a corner of Endress+Hauser Flow’s Reinach factory lies a particularly important facility – the metrological test centre with its calibration rigs for flow measurement using water and oil.

This oil calibration rig is the only one of its kind owned by an independent MFM manufacturer, and its responsibilities include performing the yearly calibration of Singapore’s only bunkering master mass flowmeter (MMFM) which the world’s largest bunkering port depends on.

Stephan Natter, Principal Business Development Manager of Endress+Hauser Flow, was on location to explain the rig’s raison d'etre.

“You might have to question why we built such an oil calibration facility whose measurement can be directly traced back to the national standard,” Natter shared.

“By far not all MFM manufacturers have an oil calibration rig. Because common sense is that a MFM which is calibrated on water can be also used in oil, keeping the uncertainty limits given by the different custody transfer standards.

“However, under OIML R117 and API MPMS 4.5 a master MFM has to be three times more accurate than duty meters, calibrated on products equal to the final product measured at site and possess expanded measuring uncertainty of up to 0.067% verified by an independent notified body such as NMI Certin B.V.

“Every Coriolis MFM shows a measuring effect based on Reynolds number (a mathematical formula derived from combining density flow rate and viscosity). The higher the viscosity the higher the effect is on the measuring signal and this needs to be compensated. Every MFM of Endress+Hauser has a Reynolds number compensation built into its electronics.

“With the oil calibration rig, we have the possibility to fine tune the Reynolds number compensation for specific meters because every meter is a little bit different due to production tolerances. With this rig we are able then to make for example, the Metcore master meter perfect.”

Coincidentally, the master meter of Metcore , a Singapore-based Authorised Verifier and accredited certification body for MFM bunkering systems, was at Endress+Hauser Flow’s Reinach factory to perform its yearly calibration in accordance with ISO/IEC 17025.

Since 1 November 2020, the master meter has been used for verification of duty MFMs installed on Singapore bunker tankers due for yearly re-validation.

Singapore bunkering industry players have regarded the master meter as a ‘game changer’ as it shortens the time and reduces resources, making it the most practical and efficient method of validating the duty MFMs performance.

The master MFM verification service operates on the principles of TR 80:2020 – Meter Verification using Master Mass Flow Meter; the standard guidelines stated the master MFM has to be three times better in terms of performance when compared to duty meters.

Darrick Pang, Managing Director of Metcore International Pte Ltd, commented:

“Meter verification using master meter provides the alternative option for the MFM users other than the regular meter re-calibration as it is more efficient, less costly and time-consuming process to monitor the measurement performance of the duty MFM over its metrological requirements.”

“It is under that notion that the master meter must be calibrated under the acclaimed ISO/IEC 17025 environment to ensure a high level of performance accuracy of the master meter needed for meter verification.”

Related: Endress+Hauser factory tour series: Transforming designs into reality
Related: Endress+Hauser factory tour series: Finer points of MFM design, explained by R&D

 

Photo credit: Endress+Hauser
Published: 26 August 2024