LR Bunker Tips: The Measure Tape

by Chris Bieda, FOBAS Service Delivery, Lloyd’s Register GMT
Thursday November 9, 2017

All surveyors who attend bunker surveys should always be carrying a fully calibrated Measure Tape. This tape should be in in good working order and should also have a serial number that links to its maintenance and calibration records.

The Measure Tape has two very important tasks during a survey. It should be used for measuring not only the bunker fuel levels in the tanks (both vessel and barge) but also for measuring the reference heights of the tanks to ensure they match the recorded Calibration Heights.

Tank measurements should be taken by the approved "three dip" innage or ullage method. They should then be recorded on a gauging ticket for reporting purposes.

The Measure Tape should also be used to find the presence of water in the bunker tanks using an approved water finding indicator paste.

Physical Measurements using a tape are always preferred in comparison to using Vessel/Barge gauges as these can be inaccurate and are prone to give false readings due to blockages etc.

If a surveyor attends your bunker operations without a Measure Tape (or you have concerns about its condition) the surveyor should be challenged immediately and operations suspended until the problem is rectified. Damage includes twists or bends or the numbers being too faded to read clearly.

About Lloyd’s Register

LR

Lloyd's Register provides independent assurance and expert advice to companies operating high-risk, capital-intensive assets in the marine, energy and transportation sectors.

Our Marine Services

We are a leading provider of marine classification services around the world, helping ensure that internationally recognised safety and environmental standards are maintained at every stage of a ship's life.

But we provide much more than traditional classification. We understand that in today's complex marine industry our clients are facing challenges to achieve the best possible performance from their assets and operations. We work closely with all industry stakeholders – shipowners, operators, charterers, designers, shipyards, equipment suppliers and port authorities – to support compliance with regulations, understand and manage the application of new technology and innovation, assess the risks of novel concepts and make them a reality, and achieve greater operational and energy efficiency through optimisation. Every service we offer is based on our technical insight and extensive experience, which means we can help our clients make informed decisions to improve performance and achieve their operating goals.

To contact the editor responsible for this story email us at editor@shipandbunker.com