Asia/Pacific News
IBIA Urges Continued Efforts Toward MFM Integrity
The International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA) today said benefits achieved through the adoption of mandatory use of Mass Flow Meters (MFMs) for marine fuel oil deliveries in Singapore must be protected by effective enforcement.
Further, IBIA said that the use of approved MFMs to measure quantity being loaded onto bunker tankers, as well as that delivered to ship, would address a "missing link" in supply chain integrity.
"The Singapore regulation that came into effect on 1 January 2017 was widely perceived to be a significant step forward in promoting greater transparency and ensuring the accuracy of delivered tonnage in the port, but it hasn't all been plain sailing," explained IBIA.
"IBIA members and other industry stakeholders have shown a great deal of interest in instances where breaches of the MFM regulations have been suspected, such as the temporary suspension in March of the harbour craft licences of five bunker tankers operated by Panoil while authorities investigated irregularities found on their piping fixtures."
As Ship & Bunker reported yesterday, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) Monday said it revoked the bunker craft operator licence of Panoil Petroleum Pte Ltd (Panoil) after checks revealed that unauthorised alterations were made onboard the five bunker tankers.
"IBIA is confident that MPA will continue to take appropriate measures to punish and discourage malpractices in this area so as to not harm Singapore's hard fought reputation as one of the world's leading and most reliable bunker ports," said IBIA today.
The organisation notes that another area of concern is the potential for variations in delivery volumes between Singapore oil terminals and bunker tankers - a issue that falls outside of MPA jurisdiction.
"Bunker tankers have to accept the delivery volume recorded by the terminals, and IBIA has been informed that MFM-equipped bunker tankers have experienced discrepancies which put bunker craft operators at a disadvantage," explained IBIA.
IBIA says it would support a solution that applied the respective MPA-approved MFM system bunker tanker figures for oil terminal loadings, and notes that a cross-industry group, including IBIA, SPRING Singapore, the Singapore Shipping Association, and the Singapore Chemical Industry Council, is in dialogue with relevant bodies governing the Singapore terminals in order to resolve the issue.
