Asia/Pacific News
MPA: MGO Mass Flow Metering in Singapore "as Early as 2017"
Mandatory mass flow metering for MGO bunkering could come as soon as 2017, Captain M Segar, Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA)'s Assistant CEO of Operations, said Thursday.
"We have ... started work on Mass Flow Metering for marine gas oil. So far, we have seen encouraging results from the test-bedding project," he said during his opening comments at the Singapore Maritime Week (SMW) 2016 International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA) gala dinner.
"Moving forward, to create a level-playing field and to harmonise procedures, MPA will work towards implementing MFM for marine gas oil deliveries. This could come as early as 2017."
The use of mass flow meters (MFMs) for MFO bunkering becomes mandatory in Singapore from January 1, 2017, and in February M Segar said upward of 500,000 metric tonnes of bunkers were already being delivered monthly using MFM technology, a figure that has since risen significantly.
"I am pleased to share that we now have 73 bunker tankers approved for mass flow meter delivery for marine fuel oil and we are seeing close to 1 million metric tonnes of bunkers being delivered via MPA-approved mass flow meters every month," he said.
In highlighting MPA's other plans for the bunkering industry, M Segar said it will continue to look to technology to increase productivity, and to that end is currently working towards test-bedding an electronic bunker delivery note (E-BDN) mobile application which will allow real-time transfer of bunkering information.
"We have received positive feedback from the industry and will commence field-testing in the second half of this year." he said.
"The bunkering industry plays an important role in entrenching Singapore's status as a global hub port. Working in close collaboration with our industry partners, MPA is committed to continue raising our bunkering standards to safeguard Singapore's position as a premier bunkering port of choice."
In other comments made by M Segar that evening, he also highlighted Singapore's resilience in the face of last year's tough market conditions.
