Asia/Pacific News
Skuld Advises Ship Operators to Utilise a Bunker Surveyors Amid New Singapore MFM Requirement
Marine insurance provider Skuld has advised vessel operators to utilise a licensed bunker surveyor to oversee bunker supply operations once mass flow meter (MFM) requirements are implemented in Singapore at the turn of the new year.
As Ship & Bunker reported, with the technology set to become mandatory for MFO bunkering in Singapore from January 1, 2017, almost all fuel oil barges with a license to operate in Singapore now have an approved MFM system installed.
"As the mandatory MFM system for bunkering in Singapore is a completely new practice, there is no official historical record of issues, problems, disputes, and steps taken, whether technically or legally to resolve disputes," said Skuld.
Skuld says that a number of bunker suppliers that have used MFM systems have unofficially reported satisfactory results of a vessel's bunker final receipt quantity as measured by the vessel, while others have provided unofficial reports of a shortage in deliveries and ensuing disputes.
"As the MFM procedures will be totally new to most ship operators and their shipboard personnel, it would be advisable that owners or charterers who are having vessels bunkered in Singapore port on/after 1 January 2017 to always arrange through their local shipping agents a licensed bunker surveyor to attend," said Skuld.
As reported earlier this week, local bunker players have told Ship & Bunker that real word usage of MFMs for bunkering in Singapore has shown the technology to be five times more accurate than the official margin of error.
