IBIA and BIMCO aim to introduce mass flow meters in more bunker hubs

The International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA) and BIMCO are working towards bunker licensing schemes aimed at introducing mass flow meters (MFM) in bunker hubs, in a move to improve fuel quality and reduce quantity disputes.

PHOTO: ExxonMobil mass flow metering system (MFMS) in Singapore. ExxonMobil

The duo will launch an online survey to collect views from different players across the maritime sector.

IBIA formed the IBIA Bunker Licensing and MFM working group last year to identify key elements of bunker licensing programmes, the organisation says.

The working group includes 24 IBIA members who represent various sectors such as suppliers, ports, shippers and insurance firms.

“The implementation of licensing schemes that award high-quality fuel oil suppliers will help improve the level of quality of the fuel delivered and provide significant financial savings for shipowners and bunker suppliers,” says BIMCO’s secretary general and chief David Loosley.

Back in 2017, the Maritime and Port Authority Singapore (MPA) mandated the use of MFMs for all heavy fuel oil bunker deliveries, followed by a similar mandate for distillates from July 2019. The use of MFM has resulted in fewer cases of shortlifting in the port.