Bunkering Check List
Bunkering is often carried out when the engineeringstaff are under pressure in both time and manpower. Key checks are often missed and only come to light when it is too late. A few relevant points are detailed below:
1. The purchaser should obtain specification acceptance from the supplier.
2. Purchaser needs to advise ship’s buyer what grade of fuel will be delivered and how transferred.
3. Fuels from different deliveries should be segregated as far as practical.
4. All receiving tanks need to be gauged prior to taking fuel.
5. Don’t sign any documentation unless you have witnessed the actual event.
6. Always take up witness offers made by the supplier
7. If the suppliers sampling method is unknown, then sign adding the words “for receipt only - source unknown”.
8. Always take a fuel sample using a continuous drip method.
9. Take one sample per barge/ delivery
10. Sign the BDR for volume only, if necessary adding the words “for volume only - weight to be determined after density tests”.
11. Ensure good records are kept throughout the bunkering.
12. Keep accurate engine logs in the event of any subsequent problems
13. Keep fuel samples for at least 12 months.
14. Test all fuel on delivery for Viscosity, Density, Water,Stability, Pour Point and Salt (if water present).
15. Use a laboratory to check results in the event of any discrepancies being indicated by on-site test equipment.
Info Centre >> Fuel and Lube Oil Technical Manual >> 3. Fuel Oil - Delivery & Sampling >> 3.2 Delivery
Fuel Oil Delivery
This section deals with delivery of large volumes of fuel oil. It relies heavily on marine practice but the methods and lessons have relevance to land-based applications where current procedures are often less strict, to the detriment of the fuel buyer. Associated with the actual physical delivery of the bunkers is the accompanying paperwork. This can be conveniently sub-divided into two parts:
Pre-delivery Fuel Oil Documentation
The purpose of the pre-delivery document is to record agreement on the operational details of the transfer and to ensure safe transfer of the product. This document originates from the seller’s representative and states the grade or grades with quantity which have been nominated. Ideally the grades will be expressed by reference to ISO 8217, which defines viscosity for residual fuel oil grades at 100°C. In reality, a residual grade may be expressed as a maximum viscosity usually quoted at 50°C. Distillate grades, instead of being referenced as DMA, DMB and DMC, may be referred to as marine gas oil, marine diesel or marine diesel blended.
Having established what is to be transferred, agreement has to be reached on the pumping rate acceptable to the receiving vessel to ensure safe transfer. The next aspect which needs to be considered is witnessing of tanks by sounding or ullage and the approach to this is detailed later in this section. Agreement should be reached on the witnessing of a representative sample and this again is detailed later. Another aspect which should be discussed and agreed is a spill prevention transfer procedure. The key to this is communication and a check list can be useful to ensure no points are missed.
Bunker Delivery Receipt (BDR)
The purpose of the Bunker Delivery Receipt (BDR) is to record what has been transferred. Various factors are recorded including:
Care should be taken before signing the BDR. For example, the bunkers should not be signed for in weight form, only for volume at observed temperature. The actual weight can only be calculated after a representative sample of the delivery has been tested for density.
MARPOL Annex VI requires you to retain the BDR for at least 3 years from the date of issue.
Letter of Protest
Should there be any dispute in the quantity of bunkers delivered, the purchaser or his representative should issue a letter of protest, which is properly signed and stamped by both parties. An example of such a letter is shown below.
The letter of protest system can be used by both the barge or supplier as well as the ship owner or engine operator.