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Tricks of the Bunker Trade: Concealed Fuel in Bunker Tanks
Verify the number and location of all bunker tanks onboard including overflow tank; sludge tank etc., ensuring it corresponds with the tank capacity diagram.
Note: Refer to supplements to Marpol I/VI Certificates. This will indicate the exact number and capacities of sludge tank, drain tank, residue tank, waste oil tank, bilge tank etc.
A surveyor might come across some tanks as being declared empty.
We have heard all sorts of excuses like: The tank is not in use as it contains only sludge or the heating coils have been damaged and the tank emptied out and not in use (check paper trail to find out if the operators have been informed of this or any repair work scheduled for dry dock, check log books etc.)
In any case investigate further by opening manhole covers for tanks that have been declared empty or containing sludge or other reasons.
About Petro Inspect and The Bunker Detectives
Petro Inspect, previous known only as The Bunker Detectives, are a dedicated team who primarily help ship charterers' & bunker brokers deal with bunker quantity disputes (which do not fall under P&I cover for charterers'), and also offer an exclusive service to ship charterers' dealing with 'Bad' Bunker dispute claims, such as the supply of contaminated or off- specification bunkers.
The core services provided under the banner of 'Bunker Detective' are 221B Surveys (aka Bunker Detective Surveys), Bunker Stem Surveys (aka Bunker Quantity Surveys - BQS) and Charter On/Off Hire and Condition Surveys, as well as a bunker fuel concealment detection services.
About Kaivan H. Chinoy
A qualified Mercantile Marine Officer with an MSc Degree in "Technical Management of Ship Operations," prior to founding AVA Marine Kaivan spent over 15 years involved in extensive marine operations including vessel navigation, cargo handling, accident investigations, project cargo risk management, and marine cargo surveying.
To contact the editor responsible for this story email us at editor@shipandbunker.com
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