MFM requirement takes effect in Rotterdam and Antwerp-Burges

The use of a Mass Flow Meter (MFM) system on board bunker vessels became mandatory for the delivery of residual distillates and biofuels in the ports of Rotterdam and Antwerp-Bruges, from 1 January 2026.

The Port of Rotterdam, on its website, said the system measures precisely how much fuel is transferred from the bunker vessel to the sea-going vessel. 

“The aim is to make the bunker market in both ports more transparent, efficient and reliable,” it said. 

A bunker licence for residual fuels, distillates and biodiesel is mandatory for (owners of) bunker vessels supplying sea-going vessels, to ensure that such operations are conducted safely, correctly and in an environmentally responsible manner.

It added that all bunker activities must be reported and registered in advance via Portbase.

In 2023, the port announced the mandate, requiring bunker vessels in the two ports to have a certified system that indicates the exact amount of fuel they are delivering to seagoing vessels.

Note: A detailed explanation of the Mass Flow Meter process is available in the MFM manual and FAQ’s.

Related: MFM bunker measurement system to be mandatory in Antwerp-Bruges and Rotterdam
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
Related: CE Delft releases report on bunker fuels supplied to Port of Rotterdam and Port of Antwerp-Bruges

Photo credit: Manifold Times
Published: 7 January, 2026