Singapore to Use New Bunker Mass Flow Metering Rules

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has launched the world’s first national technical reference for bunker mass flow metering of marine fuel oil deliveries in Singapore, which are expected to come into effect from January 1, 2017.

MPA said that the new guidelines will set out clear requirements for measurement and system integrity that provide a fair basis for custody transfer between the bunker supplier and bunker buyer.

Record bunker sales volume of 45.16 million metric tonnes (mt) in 2015 made Singapore the world’s largest bunkering port, as the country continued its strong growth since standardised bunker delivery procedures were adopted in the early 1990s.

MPA further said that the guidelines are “crucial for the support of the further growth of Singapore’s bunkering industry” and that they will provide both the bunker buyers and suppliers with better assurance of the quantity of bunker delivered.

“The mass flow metering system has a number of key benefits; most importantly transparency, efficiency and security. It can also help marine vessel operators save up to an estimated three hours and USD 5,000 per refuelling. Looking ahead, we will continue to invest in innovation that can help to set new standards of transparency and reliability for fuel measurement, throughout each stage of the supply chain,” Wong Suan, Regional Sales Manager of ExxonMobil Asia Pacific Pte Ltd, said.

“80% of Pacific International Lines’ total bunker consumption comes from Singapore. The use of mass flow meters has enabled us to shorten the time for receiving bunkers at Singapore, and as a result, improve our vessels’ service efficiency,” Teo Choo Wee, Executive Director of Pacific International Lines (Pte) Ltd, said.