Asia/Pacific News
LR: Singapore, Hong Kong Mass Flow Meters Level the Playing Field for Bunkering
Douglas Raitt, Global FOBAS Manager at Lloyd's Register (LR) says that, while there was initial resistance from barge operators, the arrival of Exxon Mobil Corp.'s (ExxonMobil's) mass flow metering systems (MFMs) in both Singapore and Hong Kong have provided substantial support to "put everyone on a level playing field."
"I've been in this industry for 15 years and outside of outright corrupt practices the biggest bunkering concern remains measurement accuracy. If you don't measure accurately you will get variations," said Raitt.
In 2012 ExxonMobil became the first supplier in Singapore to use a Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) approved mass flow meter.
Raitt says that MFMs are not "a plug and play solution," and as such, the MPA worked to ensure controlled implementation to maintain system integrity.
"They did a thorough job and as a result people have started to change their opinions of mass flow metering," said Raitt.
"The Singapore Maritime Port Authority was amazing in its approach and ensured that there was a controlled implementation of mass flow metering despite on-going arguments."
Raitt says that there was a risk that bunkers would not be lifted from Singapore if it was the only region where MFMs were required, attracting buyers to cheaper bunkers at other locations.
"Fortunately, we are already seeing a desire to implement MFMS elsewhere. It's gaining momentum; people are ready to support quality and integrity for bunker deliveries," he adds, noting that ExxonMobil has also started MFM bunkering in Hong Kong.
"What we're doing in Hong Kong with ExxonMobil has set the bar higher for the region as a whole. Together we're pushing the global industry to best practices."
The MFM enabled barge used by ExxonMobil in Hong Kong is said to have been accredited by LR, while the MPA is responsible for accrediting MFMs in Singapore.
Earlier this month, Ship & Bunker reported that the MPA had launched the world's first National Technical Reference for Bunker Mass Flow Metering, TR48 : 2015.
