TFG Marine: Mandatory MFM move in Antwerp-Bruges and Rotterdam is a ‘step in the right direction’

TFG Marine, the global marine fuel supply and procurement joint venture between Trafigura Group Pte (Trafigura) and shipping firms Frontline and Golden Ocean, on Monday (23 October) said it welcomed the mandatory use of mass flow metres (MFMs) in Ports of Antwerp-Burges and Rotterdam from 2026.

Manifold Times previously reported bunker vessels in the two ports must have a certified system that indicates the exact amount of fuel they are delivering to seagoing vessels from 1 January 2026. 

At the end of last year, the two ports announced that they would make it a requirement for bunker vessels to have a certified bunker measurement system on board. This follows independent research in Antwerp and Zeebrugge, and Rotterdam, which revealed recurring quantity issues in the bunker market.

The firm described the move as “a large and welcome step in the right direction by the Ports of Antwerp and Rotterdam.” This came following the port authorities’ announcing the details of their MFM plans at the ARACON 2023 conference in Rotterdam last week. 

“This announcement has brought a sense of anticipation and optimism for what lies ahead for bunkering and the shipowners who operate on a regular basis in and out of these strategic European ports,” the firm said in a social media post.

“In addition, this decision should bring operations and processes there closer to the well tried, tested and successful model employed by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA).”

The firm also added its support to make MFMs mandatory to stamp out malpractice, improve efficiencies and help our industry get a more accurate handle on data, was nothing new.

“TFG Marine has been a vocal advocate for the use of this technology since the company’s foundation in 2020 and we have been introducing MFMs across a number of our global fleet since then. However, it is only through the widespread cooperation, support, and alignment of all industry participants, that we will achieve a, positive outcome which will be to the benefit of our entire industry,” it added. 

Related: MFM bunker measurement system to be mandatory in Antwerp-Burges and Rotterdam
Related: TFG Marine chartered barge fitted with Metcore certified mass flow metering system
Related: TFG Marine: All hands on deck for greater transparency in the bunkering industry

Photo credit: TFG Marine
Published: 24 October, 2023