Asia/Pacific News
Players Highlight Importance of MPA Role in Mass Flow Meter Roll Out
Exxon Mobil Corp. (ExxonMobil) has highlighted the importance of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA)'s role as the single authority overseeing, and certifying, the use of mass flow meters (MFMs) in the world's biggest bunkering port.
"Here in Singapore, you are fortunate to have the MPA. Mass flow meters have been used in refineries and what we did was to absorb the technology for the bunker industry," John LaRese, technical liaison manager for ExxonMobil said at the International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA) forum in Singapore last week.
"ExxonMobil's mass flow meters are calibrated in line with industry standards and are independently validated. There can't be any mistakes or corrections. In Hong Kong, you can have one barge that claims to be certified and others are not. But the problem is, in Hong Kong and elsewhere in the world, there's no dominant port agency that certifies mass flow meters."
As Ship & Bunker previously reported, January 1, 2017 it will be mandatory to use a mass flow metering system for Marine Fuel Oil (MFO) bunkering in Singapore.
LaRese said the use of the technology was a "win-win" for everyone, and highlighted that savings in time were one their biggest benefits.
"Anyone can measure accurately, but it takes time to train your people and you have to calibrate the devices," he said.
"In our industry, there's a lot of push to get the ship in and get the ship out. It's a lot of rush, so if you are to measure fuel accurately, it will take time. By providing a mass flow meter, you get that same accuracy, it's transparent, and you get it done quickly."
As Ship & Bunker reported in February, the MPA recently launched the world's first National Technical Reference for Bunker Mass Flow Metering (MFM), TR48 : 2015, and Simon Neo, regional manager for IBIA Asia, also highlighted the importance of that standard as part of the MFM bunkering process.
"Right up to installation and delivery, we have a system of thorough checks, from the factories, how it's being done, calibrated, all these are factored into TR48," he said.
"In the event of a dispute, we can go to the black box of the meter and draw out records of loading and discharge."
In February, the MPA said that, prior to the January 2017 requirement for MFM use, upward of 500,000 metric tonnes (mt) of bunkers are already being delivered monthly using the technology.
