Connect with us

Analysis

INSIGHT: Here is what to do for MFM bunker deliveries below Qmin

The Director of Singapore-based bunker survey firm Majestic Maritime Services offers recommendations to overcome this key issue faced by players at the republic.
Admin

Published

7 years ago

on

5b5ffc17a9840 1533017111

Singapore, the world's largest bunkering hub, currently sees about 50 million metric tonnes (mt) of marine fuel delivered to vessels each month year through more than 3,000 vessel calls for bunkers.

Of the total volume, a small percentage of ships receiving bunkers will not be able to meet the minimum flow rate, also known as Qmin, for mass flowmeters (MFM) bunkering operations, says the Managing Director of Singapore-based bunker surveying firm Majestic Maritime Services.

“Specifically, Qmin is the minimum flowrate to which a MFM bunkering system has been qualified to operate in compliance with the required measurement uncertainty,” Sky Sim tells Manifold Times.

“Ideally, the flow rate for bunker deliveries will need to be between the Qmin and Qmax; but this scenario doesn’t apply to all operations as physical bunker suppliers need to deliver fuel to ships of all shapes and sizes.

“And there will be the occasional scenario where the flow rate for bunkering the receiving vessel will have to be beneath the Qmin.”

According to Sim, vessel age, the diameter and maintenance of pipelines, and location of bunker tanks near the bow are additional factors influencing the minimal flow rate for bunker deliveries.

“There will also be times when a MFM-equipped bunker barge has to deliver bunkers beneath Qmin even though initially the flow rate is agreed to be above Qmin,” he explains.

“The receiving vessel’s pipeline may face high pressure during delivery and due to safety issues the bunker operator will have no choice but to lower down the flow rate resulting in it falling beneath Qmin.”

Sim, in accordance to TR48, encourages players who are in doubt to inform the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) beforehand when knowing bunkering operations will be taking place below Qmin and await their response and recommendation on whether to proceed.

“However, players who decide to still continue operations will need to indicate on their contractual agreement that all parties are aware of the low receiving rate and approve for the bunkering operation to take place; this is to protect both all parties in the event of disagreement,” he advices.

“Sometimes, the bunker supplier also has no choice but to still continue delivering bunkers to the receiving ship due to other safety reasons; such as when the vessel in question does not have enough fuel for the remaining voyage and the bunker supplier is the ship’s only refuelling option.

“In this case, surveyors are recommended to be present to witness the event of happenings as well as record details in the statement of facts to ensure proper reporting of the situation.

“MFM bunkering specialists such as Metcore International are also available to provide technical assistance for these deliveries.”

Photo credit: Manifold Times
Published: 31 July, 2018
 

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

Bunker Fuel

Singapore: Bunker sales volume raises to year record high of 4.88 million mt in May

Bio-blended variants of marine fuel oil jumped 671.7% to 40,900 mt when compared to figures seen in May 2024.
Admin

Published

4 hours ago

on

June 16, 2025

By

SG bunker performance May 2025

Bunker fuel sales at Singapore port inched forward by 1.1% on year in May 2025, the highest volume seen in 2025, according to Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) data.

In total, 4.88 million metric tonnes (mt) (exact 4,878,100 mt) of various marine fuel grades were delivered at the world’s largest bunkering port in April, up from 4.83 million mt (4,826,800 mt) recorded during the similar month in 2024.

Deliveries of marine fuel oil, low sulphur fuel oil, ultra low sulphur fuel oil, marine gas oil and marine diesel oil in May (against on year) recorded respectively 1.89 million mt (+8.6% from 1.74 million mt), 2.45 million mt (-7.2% from 2.64 million mt), 1,200 mt (from zero), 1,700 mt (-88% from 14,300 mt) and zero (from zero).

SG bunker port performance May 2025

Bio-blended variants of marine fuel oil, low sulphur fuel oil, ultra low sulphur fuel oil, marine gas oil and marine diesel oil in May (against on year) recorded respectively 40,900 mt (+671.7% from 5,300 mt), 95,800 mt (+97.9% from 48,400 mt), 700 mt (from zero), zero (from zero) and zero (from 300 mt). B100 biofuel bunkers, introduced in February this year, recorded 1,900 mt of deliveries in May.

LNG and methanol sales were respectively 45,000 mt (-7.8% from 48,800) and zero (from 1,600 mt). There were no recorded sales of ammonia for the month and so far in 2025.

Related: Singapore: Bunker fuel sales increase by 4% on year in April 2025
Related: Singapore: Bunker fuel sales increase by 0.5% on year in March 2025
Related: Singapore: Bunker fuel sales down by 8.1% on year in February 2025
Related: Singapore: Bunker fuel sales down by 9.1% on year in January 2025

A complete series of articles on Singapore bunker volumes reported by Manifold Times tracked since 2018 can be found via the link here.

 

Photo credit: Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore
Published: 16 June 2025

Continue Reading

Bunker Fuel

Panama bunker sales volume up 13.9% on year to 453,397 mt in May 2025

Total bunker sales at Panama was 453,397 metric tonnes (mt) in May 2025, compared to sales of 398,964 mt during the similar period in 2024.
Admin

Published

4 hours ago

on

June 16, 2025

By

RESIZED Panama

Bunker fuel sales at Panama increased by 13.9% in May 2025, according to the latest data from La Autoridad Maritima de Panama, also known as the Panama Maritime Authority (PMA).

Total bunker sales at Panama was 453,397 metric tonnes (mt) in May 2025, compared to sales of 398,964 mt during the similar period in 2024.

In May 2025, the Pacific side of Panama posted bunker sales of 368,419 mt; 213,589 mt of VLSFO, 117,297 mt of RMG 380, 1,538 of marine gas oil (MGO), and 35,995 mt of low sulphur marine gas oil (LSMGO) were delivered.

The similar region saw total marine sales of 323,084 mt a year before in May; with VLSFO sales at 184,761 mt, RMG 380 sales at 112,011 mt, MGO sales at 2,199 mt, and 24,113 mt of LSMGO being sold.

Panama’s Atlantic side, meanwhile, recorded total bunker fuel sales of 84,978 during May 2025; the figure comprised 63,318 mt of VLSFO, 8,575 mt of RMG 380, 1,987 mt of MGO, and 11,098 mt of LSMGO.

It saw total sales of 74,980 mt in May a year before; with VLSFO sales of 59,855 mt, RMG 380 sales of 6,508 mt, 1,545 mt of MGO, and LSMGO sales of 7,072 mt.

 

Photo credit: George Keel
Published: 16 June 2025

Continue Reading

Research

GCMD presents key learnings from ammonia STS transfer trial at Pilbara, Australia

Findings share operational recommendations for both bunker tankers and receiving vessels for ammonia bunkering operations.
Admin

Published

5 hours ago

on

June 16, 2025

By

GCMD path to zero carbon shipping

The Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD) on Friday (13 June) launched its Path to Zero-Carbon Shipping – Insights from ammonia transfer trial in the Pilbara report.

The document captures key learnings from a pilot involving the ship-to-ship transfer of liquid ammonia between two gas carriers — the Green Pioneer and the Navigator Global — at anchorage off Port Dampier in the Pilbara, Western Australia.

The trial demonstrated that ship-to-ship ammonia transfer at anchorage can be both safe and practicable, provided that recommended safeguards and operational controls are implemented.

To share these crucial learnings with the industry, the report offers quantitative insights from executing the trial, forming a reference for future pilots and eventual commercial-scale operations.

The report offers:

Project background and objectives: An overview of the trial’s goals and operational context

Detailed safety studies covering four key areas:

  • Feasibility: Response motions and mooring analysis
  • Risks: HAZID and HAZOP findings and mitigations
  • Consequences: Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) plume dispersion modelling
  • Response: Emergency Response measures and protocols

Operation execution overview: A detailed account of the actual transfer operation, including the Joint Plan of Operations (JPO), assets deployed and a timeline of key events.

Optimising ammonia bunkering: Operational recommendations for both bunker tankers and receiving vessels, covering aspects such as transfer system setup, manifold arrangement, sample collection and more. A checklist of ERP resources required onboard is also included.

“In the past, bunkering guidelines took years to develop and were typically derived from experience with actual operations,” said Professor Lynn Loo, CEO of GCMD.

“In this case, guideline development is preceding actual commercial-scale operations, making it all the more important that these trials are as informative and comprehensive as possible so they can serve as a relevant reference for industry bodies in refining safe handling procedures, emergency response plans, and operational guidelines.”

Note: The full report of Path to Zero-Carbon Shipping – Insights from ammonia transfer trial in the Pilbara can be downloaded here.

 

Photo credit: Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation
Published: 16 June 2025

Continue Reading

Trending