Asia/Pacific News
MPA to Demand Mass Flow Meters for Barge Approvals in 2014
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) will stop approving barges without mass-flow meters for bunker transfer by the end of the year, industry news site ShippingWatch reports.
Citing sources present at an MPA meeting last week, ShippingWatch writes that the port authority officially adopted a proposal requiring the meters.
The port will eventually require approved and sealed mass flow meters for all bunker barges, but the deadline for that mandate may take up to two years, since the MPA wants to make sure suppliers can deliver the meters in time.
The MPA did not issue an official comment about the mandate, but it may make an official statement and provide more information at Maritime Week in Singapore in April.
Bunker fraud, often facilitated by the practice of measuring fuel by volume rather than mass, is seen as a significant problem in Singapore.
"We've seen examples where this quickly results in not receiving several percentages of the ordered fuel, if one's not careful," said Lars Lundegaard, senior vice president and head of the technical department at the shipping company Norden.
"It could easily be three or four percent of the ordered fuel, and that quickly becomes a lot of money."
A recent report from marine insurer Skuld said that the dangers of bunker fraud may be on the rise as high fuel costs provide incentives for suppliers to cheat their customers.
The MPA confirmed to Ship & Bunker in September that it would eventually mandate the use of mass flow meters.
