LR Bunker Tips: Lets Talk About Sampling

by Chris Bieda, FOBAS Service Delivery, Lloyd’s Register GMT
Wednesday October 18, 2017

The taking of fully representative samples during a bunker operation is a very important task. You have to ensure that you not only take the samples correctly at the manifold, but also pour the samples correctly into bottles at the end of the bunkering process to ensure the samples are an accurate interpretation of the fuel received.

The samples are an important part of any bunker operation as they ensure you have a full idea of the quality of the fuel you are planning to burn on your vessel. If you get it wrong, you may end up with engine damage as you were not aware of the poor quality, or may start a claim for poor fuel unnecessarily due to a poor sampling procedure.

Fuel samples should always be taken using a certified drip sampler. The sampler should be set to collect the samples into a Cubitainer (not a bucket) and ensure that it is filled at a uniform rate over the full period of time the bunkers are transferring.

Once the bunkering has finished, the Cubitainer should be well shaken (homogenised) to ensure the fuel is well mixed before being poured into the bottles.

Bottles should be clean and dry with seal-able caps. The bottles should be free from debris and water and covered before use.

The bottles should be filled a third at a time in rotation until full (80% limit) once complete the bottles should have seal caps firmly applied and should be clearly labelled.

A FOBAS BQS Surveyor is fully trained and skilled in this process and will monitor the sample taking throughout his attendance. The surveyor will then distribute the samples in accordance with the client instructions and dispatch a sample to the FOBAS lab for analysis.

Feel free to contact the FOBAS BQS Team if you require a surveyor to attend your bunker operation.

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