Singapore-based independent international ship management firm Thome Group simply registered no bunker quantity dispute case at Singapore this year, says the Deputy Chief Operating Officer of its Tanker Division.
‘I will say this has been a very positive step being taken by the government and Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA),’ Ashish Malik told Manifold Times in an interview.
‘Usage of Mass Flow Meters and guiding regulations enforced by MPA, for bunkering operations in port of Singapore, have increased our confidence in the reliability of these operations. Quantity discrepancies, including those associated with cappuccino bunkers, had been our major concern earlier.
‘We have only one case, when there was some doubt, but otherwise we have not had any such case since the whole year.’
According to Malik, Singapore has always been Thome Group’s preferred port for bunkering and the use of MFM technology for bunkering has ‘definitely reduced headaches for us’.
The company currently manages a total of over 200 vessels, including more than 135 tankers.
Approximately fifteen vessels from the fleet sail by Singapore every week mostly for bunkering; with each vessel lifting an average of 1,000 metric tonnes (mt) of fuel per vessel.
Malik recalled an incident in 2015 when he boarded a vessel during to a bunker dispute.
‘I came to inspect the vessel and saw the Chief Engineer just standing at the accommodation and he immediately came to shook hands with me and I say: “What are you doing here?”’
‘He says: “Oh please have a look here!” The bunker tank was open and on looking in the tank I saw there was a lot of bubbles (cappuccino effect).
‘Our Chief Engineer immediately contacted the bunker supplier and gave the MPA hotline number a call as well and were fully supported by them.’
‘Without MFM, everybody had to be on their toes to tackle potential quantity issues.’
The compulsory use of MFM technology for fuel oil bunkering was made effective at Singapore since 1 January, 2017.
Photo credit: Thome
Published: 27 December, 2017
Increased efficiency adds further value for vessels calling at Singapore for bunkers, says Hong Lam Marine.
SS 648, the first standard of its kind in the world, has an expanded scope and application to cover marine fuel oil and distillates as compared to TR 48, says SSC.
Distillates include MGO, MDO, LS MGO (0.1%), ULSFO and VLSFO meeting 0.5% sulphur requirements.
Bunker suppliers and bunker craft operators may choose to carry out meter verification using either existing MIMO method OR with the use of a Master Meter.
‘MFMs will continue to have a place within the bunkering sector even when the shipping industry continues to adopt new types of marine fuels, such as LNG, biofuel, methanol, ammonia and hydrogen,’ states spokesman.
IBIA Bunker Licensing & MFM Working Group will continue to push for adoption of bunker licensing and uptake of MFM in other areas, especially major bunkering hubs.
Discussions around the need to develop methanol bunkering operations are taking place at numerous ports ahead of estimated demand of above 7M mtpa by 2030, says Chris Chatterton of Methanol Institute.
‘Economics of the shipping market will be the key driver enabling methanol to be adopted at a higher pace going forth over next couple years as market begins to return to more normal rates,’ states COO.
Integr8 Fuel injunction varied by Singapore Court to allow former employees to start work at Hartree Group in December 2022 following failure to produce evidence on biofuels development plans.
Variability of sources can affect the stability and performance of biofuel bunkers produced from these feedstocks, in turn leading to difficulties in meeting regulations and industry standards, shares Bryan Quek.
Top three positive movers in 2022 were Bunker House Petroleum Pte Ltd (+7), Eastpoint International Marketing Pte Ltd (+5), and Eng Hua Company (Pte) Ltd (+6); newcomer Sinopec Fuel Oil (Singapore) gets 19th spot.
Livestock carrier also involved in earlier bunker claim with Glander International Bunkering due to remaining unpaid fuel bill of approximately USD 116,000, according to court documents obtained by Manifold Times.
