Asia/Pacific News
Major Suppliers Welcome Singapore Anti-Fraud Measures
Major bunker suppliers OW Bunker and Dynamic Oil Trading say Singapore's planned tightening of bunkering standards represents a step forward, industry news site the Motorship reports.
Deceptive measures by bunker suppliers, such as so-called "Cappuccino bunkers" where frothing of the fuel can make the amount supplied appear greater, can hurt the whole bunkering industry, said Søren Christian Meyer, vice president of the physical division of OW Bunker.
"Clearly these circumstances are based on the actions of the few, and ultimately shipowners and operators do have a choice in who they buy their fuel from," he said.
"Like in any market, you get what you pay for.
"Nevertheless, it is vital that responsible fuel suppliers take a progressive approach to ensuring quantity and building a positive reputation for the industry."
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has said it will begin requiring the use of mass flow meters "in due course" to reduce fraud.
OW Bunker has already been using Coriolis flow meters worldwide for seven years.
"From OW Bunker's perspective, the investment has certainly paid dividends,"Meyer said.
"As well as ensuring the quantity of fuel delivered, using a Coriolis flow meter creates a more efficient and smoother delivery process between the bunker barge and the receiving vessel."
Lars Møller, CEO of Dynamic Oil Trading, said Singapore's efforts to prevent fraud and ensure that fuel provided at the port is high quality are welcome.
"In 2013 we have seen evidence of a more robust attitude towards bunker suppliers by the Singapore MPA, with a number of companies being removed from its list of accredited suppliers," he said.
"The revisions made by the MPA to the Singapore Bunkering Standards have been implemented for very good reasons.
"Naturally it has instigated some additional information gathering and paperwork, but any steps that are taken to record more detail of the quality of fuel products as well as the quantity supplied should be welcomed.
The MPA has reportedly decided to stop approving barges without mass flow meters for bunker transfer by the end of the year and expects to require the meters for all barges within two years.
