Mass Flowmeter

Metcore signs agreement with SOHAR Port and Freezone for MFM implementation support

Collaboration is aimed at introducing the use of MFM systems for bunker fuel measurement to bunkering operators and stakeholders operating within Port of Sohar.

Published

9 months ago

April 26, 2024

Admin

Metcore signs agreement with SOHAR Port and Freezone for MFM implementation support

SOHAR Port and Freezone (SOHAR) in Oman has formalized an agreement with Metcore International Pte Ltd (METCORE) for the implementation and training support for MFM systems in the Port of Sohar.

SOHAR Port and Freezone in February 2024 announced a mandate on the alignment of ISO 22192 standards ‘Bunkering of marine fuel using the Coriolis MFM system’ for all marine fuel supply operations within the port.

In response to this directive, SOHAR is actively collaborating with Metcore to deliver targeted MFM initiatives. The collaboration is aimed at introducing the use of MFM systems for bunker fuel measurement to bunkering operators and stakeholders operating within the Port of Sohar.

Metcore is dedicated to enhancing transparency and trust in the bunkering industry with the core values of integrity, trust, innovation, perseverance, and excellence. As such, the company is fully aligned with the latest initiatives by SOHAR to introduce MFM bunkering operations to the region.

“We are very supportive in taking the right approach for MFM system implementation with harmonised best practices and in conformance with ISO 22192 standards,” said Darrick Pang, Managing Director of Metcore. “We are honoured to bring our expertise to support SOHAR Port and Freezone in its upward trajectory as among the world's fastest-growing port with free zone developments.”

Commenting on this agreement, SOHAR Harbour Master Captain Batti Al Shibli said: “SOHAR Port and Freezone take a major step forward by implementing cutting-edge Mass Flow Metering Systems (MFM) with Metcore International Pte Ltd. Aligned with ISO 22192 standards, this partnership revolutionizes bunker operations, ensuring transparency and precision. Our agreement includes advanced MFM deployment, staff training, and conformity assessment programs, setting a new standard for excellence in bunkering management."

On Metcore’s competence & capability

Metcore offers a comprehensive suite of conformity assessment services leading to the certification of MFM systems. Adhering to relevant standards such as OIML R117 and ISO 22192, the firm has been accredited by the Singapore Accreditation Council (SAC) as an ISO/IEC 17065 certification body for MFM systems in bunker applications.

Therefore, its certification team adopts an impartial evaluation approach to ensure compliance with applicable standards. This methodology has empowered Metcore to advocate and implement the Standard and Conformance framework directly for the international bunkering industry.

The company further collaborates closely with its established partners to offer ISO22192 standard certification services for international clients who have installed MFM systems on their bunker tankers, ensuring a harmonised approach by adopting global best practices.

About SOHAR Port and Freezone

As one of the fastest-growing ports in the world, SOHAR Port and Freezone continues to leverage on its strategic location and enhance its services, positioning itself as a key logistics hub within the region and across the world boasting container, liquids, dry and break-bulk terminals. A powerful combination of the expertise of the Port of Rotterdam and ASYAD Group, it is earmarked as one of the Sultanate’s mega-projects, home to logistics, petrochemicals, and metal clusters, as well as the region’s first dedicated agri terminal. Today, after 20 years of operation, it serves as the main gateway for import and export in Oman, directly contributing 2.1% of the country’s GDP and almost 36,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities. With a focus on sustainable development and cutting-edge technology, it is leading the development and modernization of the Sultanate’s logistics infrastructure and supporting the economic diversification objectives of Oman’s 2040 Vision.

Photo credit: Manifold Times
Published: 26 April 2024

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TFG Marine, OOMCO form bunker fuel joint venture to supply in Oman ports

TFG-OOMCO will deliver bunker fuels to vessels visiting Oman’s ports of Duqm, Muscat and Sohar and offer customers a reliable and transparent bunkering provider in the Arabian Gulf.

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TFG Marine, OOMCO form bunker fuel joint venture to supply in Oman ports

TFG Marine, the international marine fuel joint venture founded by Trafigura, Frontline and Golden Ocean on Thursday (16 January) said it has established a bunker fuel joint venture with Oman Oil Marketing Company (OOMCO) to supply vessels visiting Oman’s ports of Duqm, Muscat and Sohar.

TFG-OOMCO LLC, incorporated in Oman, will combine the local knowledge of OOMCO with the international footprint, sourcing of all grades of marine fuels, infrastructure and logistics capability of TFG Marine, to offer customers a reliable and transparent bunkering provider in the Arabian Gulf.

Tarik Al Junaidi, CEO of Oman Oil Marketing Company, said: “This partnership aligns with Oman Oil Marketing Company’s efforts to develop the maritime transport and shipping infrastructure in Oman, which is in alignment with the objectives Oman Vision 2040.”

“It underscores our commitment to meeting the increasing demand of compliant, high-quality marine grades of fuel while adhering to the highest international health, safety, and environmental standards.”

“Through our partnership with TFG Marine, the adoption of cutting-edge technologies and the implementation of global best practices in fuel bunkering, we strive to lead towards excellence and sustainability in the bunker fuel business in the Sultanate’s ports.”

Mark Russell, Chief Commercial Officer, TFG Marine, said: “This is TFG Marine’s first venture in the Middle East and we look forward to serving our customers in this region. Oman has a rich history as a maritime nation and is well located close to the main shipping routes connecting the Arabian Gulf and the Indian subcontinent with the rest of the world.”

The announcement follows the signing of an MOU agreement between SOHAR Port and Freezone and TFG Marine, to establish an international bunker fuel supply operation.

TFG Marine has already deployed bunker vessel Margherita Cosulich to the region to supply vessels at SOHAR’s deep-sea port. The vessel is fitted with a Mass Flow Meter (MFM), calibrated to the ISO 22192 international standard as required by SOHAR Port. SOHAR Port in February 2024 announced a mandate on the alignment of ISO 22192 standards ‘Bunkering of marine fuel using the Coriolis MFM system’ for all marine fuel supply operations within the port.

TFG Marine added it has long been an advocate of the global adoption of calibrated MFMs to bring much-needed transparency to bunkering and encouraging digitalisation in the long-term interests of the bunker industry and helping to further the decarbonisation goals of the shipping industry.

Photo credit: TFG Marine
Published: 17 January, 2025

Bunker Fuel

China: Zhoushan Port achieves 7.26 million mt annual bunker volume for 2024

Zhoushan Hi-Tech Zone Administrative Committee highlighted the progress Zhoushan Port has made in the past year including actively planning to build an alternative fuel bunkering centre.

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China: Zhoushan Port achieves 7.26 million mt annual bunker volume for 2024

Zhoushan Hi-Tech Zone Administrative Committee on Friday (10 January) said Zhoushan, the fourth largest bunkering port of the world, delivered 7.26 million metric tonnes (mt) of marine fuel in 2024.

This marked about a 3% increase from 7.04 million mt in 2023.

The committee also highlighted the progress Zhoushan Port has made in the past year including actively planning to build an alternative fuel bunkering centre.

It has successfully obtained approval for the national biodiesel promotion and application pilot project. The construction of a project to produce an annual 1 million mt of marine biodiesel has begun.

The first methanol vehicle-to-ship pilot was carried out, and the first methanol bunkering barge in Zhoushan was officially built and is expected to be put into use by the end of 2025.

The port has also improved the fuel supply efficiency of various bunkering anchorages in Zhoushan including Tiaozhumen Anchorage adding three bunkering anchorages on top of the original five and has successfully carried out night bunkering operations.

Xiushandong and Mazhi anchorages have added a total of three new bonded bunkering anchorages, which can implement all-weather and fully automatic anchorage reservations, and provide advance reservations and priority refueling services for large ships and large orders.

The committee also highlighted Dong Fang Zhao Yang becoming the first domestic bunkering barge to obtain the mass flow meter system certification under the ISO22192:2021 standard. The barge conducted a successful pilot for the bunkering of bonded fuel oil using a mass flow meter at Xiushandong Anchorage on 9 December.

A spokesperson of the committee said Zhoushan will focus on promoting alternative bunker fuels such as biofuel and LNG and accelerating the completion of methanol refuelling safety assessments.

Photo credit: Zhoushan Hi-Tech Zone Administrative Committee
Published: 14 January, 2025

Mass Flowmeter

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

Bunkering barge “Dong Fang Zhao Yang” successfully refuelled Panama-flagged bulk carrier “Ocean Road” with 1,649.5 metric tonnes of bonded fuel oil at Xiushandong Anchorage.

Published

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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.

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