Selected suppliers of marine fuel in the Singapore bunkering industry have allegedly removed certain sections of Clause 5 under of ISO 8217 specifications of marine fuels within their bunker sales contracts, sources tell Manifold Times.
Clause 5 of ISO 8217:2017, which offers guidance on ‘General requirements’ of marine fuel, states the product “shall be free from any material at a concentration that causes the fuel to be unacceptable for use” together with other considerations.
“Some suppliers are quoting their price and excluding Clause 5 of the ISO 8217 as they just want to avoid being claimed for contaminants in fuels,” says a trader, declining to reveal names of the suppliers due to commercial and sensitivity issues.
“Awareness of this issue needs to be created for shipowners and bunker buyers.”
Another player, meanwhile, says SS 600, SS 524, TR 48 and licensing agreements between the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and bunker suppliers already cover ISO 8217 specifications.
“There will no issue as long as parties [the bunker supplier and bunker buyer] agree to the changes,” he informs.
“However, if the bunker supplier unilaterally does not want to guarantee certain clauses in ISO 8217 bunker buyers can have the option to opt out of the contract.
“It will be prudent for bunker suppliers, if they chose to opt out of any of the ISO 8217 Clauses, to inform bunker buyers before bunkers are stemmed to avoid confusion.
“On the other hand, as a bunker supplier, if they choose not to guarantee the full spectrum of the ISO 8217 it can only show the weakness of this bunker supplier in his own product.
“This is just the tip of the iceberg as in 2020 a lot of blended bunker fuels will enter the marine market.”
The alleged removal of Clause 5 from bunker contracts was unsurprising considering recent developments within the Singapore marine fuels market, notes a source.
“Bunker suppliers usually receive cargoes from cargo sources and perform a service to transport fuel from terminals to receiving vessels,” he shares.
“Bunker suppliers are caught in between as most are not in control of the cargoes they carry.
“The perspective of who is guilty depends on which side of the supply chain one stands, even though suppliers are also responsible for ensuring the quality of their product.
“If I were the physical supplier I will not like to carry this burden as well as damages can be quite significant. I will take steps to mitigate risk exposed to my organisation.”
Related: INSIGHT: Review of SS524 could protect bunker suppliers from off-spec issues
Related: INSIGHT: Off-spec issues reveal 'missing piece' of Singapore bunker supply chain
Related: IBAS faces $2.15 million lawsuit over contaminated bunkers
Related: IBIA takes stand on contaminated bunker fuels
Related: Legal comment: Bunker contamination in the U.S. Gulf
Published: 8 August, 2018
Event will provide a platform for maritime leaders to discuss new opportunities and key competencies for Singapore to achieve its vision of a global maritime hub.
‘He didn’t stop, he didn’t follow the instructions and said he had no damage,’ Gibraltar’s Chief Minister, Fabian Picardo, was quoted by several media reports.
Affected ships with low flash point bunker fuel should contact classification society, flag state and insurance underwriters immediately, says FOBAS.
“Okeansky Prospect” is the lead ship in a series of two Aframax tankers ordered by SCF from Zvezda; both vessels will be time-chartered on a long-term basis by Rosneft.
T&E has called on the EU to raise this mandate, otherwise known as a sub-quota to at least 6% in 2035; also called for removal of exemption for companies with three ships or less.
Vessels currently anchored within the demarcated areas are required to relocate to an alternate anchorage by 9 Aug 2022, 0001hrs.
Transferred shares of 40 subsidiaries to BVI firm after tribunal awarded claims in favour of Trinity Seatrading; YSPL has also filed a civil complaint against DNV and Liberian ship registry at Nanjing Maritime Court.
ADNOC L&S, Gulf Energy Maritime, Cockett Marine Oil, Mideast/Bahri Ship Management and VPS experts present their views on biofuel bunker hurdles at the VPS Biofuels Seminar in Dubai on 16 March.
‘Bunker barges operate in very local areas so these vessels call at port very often which means it will be a good fit for women with families,’ states Elpi Petraki, President of WISTA International.
“Our Singapore branch is under preparation and is expected to start business at the republic before June 2023,” Managing Director Darcy Wong tells bunkering publication Manifold Times in an interview.
Development to supply B35 biodiesel blend officially takes effect on 1 February; local bunker suppliers will be able to deliver updated spec within March onwards, once current stocks of B30 avails run out.
VPS, Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation, Wilhelmsen Ship Management, and INTERTANKO executives offered a multitude of perspectives to 73 attendees during the VPS Biofuels Seminar, reports Manifold Times.
31 Mar 2023
