Asia/Pacific News
Singapore: ExxonMobil to Deliver Majority of Bunkers Using Mass Flow Meters by July 2014
ExxonMobil Marine Fuels & Lubricants (ExxonMobil) today said that by July 2014 it will deliver the majority of bunkers in Singapore using a Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) approved mass flow metering (MFM) system, and it will double the number of bunker tankers it has which feature the MFM technology.
In an emailed press release the supplier said the expansion follows significant interest from marine operators that bunker in Singapore and are looking for enhanced transparency in measurement during bunkering.
The move comes well ahead of the recently announced January 1, 2017 introduction of the mandatory use a MFM system for Marine Fuel Oil (MFO) bunkering at the port.
"The MPA's recent announcement that they will mandate mass flow metering systems supports ExxonMobil's view that this technology delivers significant value to vessel operators. This is why we have been providing our customers with the benefits of the mass flow metering system in Singapore for almost two years," said Molina Albright, General Manager, Marine Fuels, Asia Pacific at ExxonMobil Marine Fuels & Lubricants.
"Our expanded mass flow metering capability will enable us to offer more marine operators the possibility of achieving the valuable time and cost savings provided by this advanced technology."
In 2012 ExxonMobil became the first bunker supplier to use a mass flow metering system approved by the MPA, and in November it upgraded a further two bunker tankers, bringing the supplier's number of approved vessels to three.
The addition of mass flow metering systems on board the Vitality, Marine Noel, and Sincerity bunker tankers by July 2014 will double ExxonMobil's number of chartered vessels that can supply bunkers using an MPA approved MFM system to six.
As well as increased transparency during the bunkering process, ExxonMobil say the systems offer "major benefits" for vessel operators including savings of up to three hours and $7,000 per delivery.
According to the latest MPA data, as at the end of 2013, four of the port's at-the-time 68 suppliers had an approved MFM system installed on at least one of their tankers, with 9 other suppliers listed as being in a test-bedding program for MFM.
