Mass flow meters should be used in more ports globally - IBIA
The adoption of Coriolis mass flow meter (MFM) will help to increase transparency between suppliers and buyers and reduce quantity-related disputes in fuel deliveries, said the International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA).
PHOTO: Loaded ships in the port of Antwerp at the container terminal, Belgium. Getty Images
The industry body, which includes ship owners, bunker suppliers and traders, has reiterated the benefits of using the Coriolis MFM as one of the solutions to mitigate supplier-buyer disputes in the global bunker market.
Coriolis MFM is an instrument that measures the mass flow rate of a fluid passing through a tube.
Some bunker ports already have a "national or regional legislation on measuring instruments such as MFMs" for measuring various trade transfers in ports, IBIA stated.
These MFMs also meet the prescribed requirements for oil and gas measurement. “However, these requirements may not necessarily be specific to bunker fuel measurement mainly due to the complexity of bunker fuel and its operational transfers,” it added.
Meanwhile, the International Standard Organisation's (ISO) document on Coriolis MFM covers procedures and requirements for bunker fuel transfers, IBIA said. Adopting the ISO's document "will harmonise MFM practices and requirements, thus avoiding confusion among industry stakeholders," it said.
The advantages of using MFMs have already been proven in the Port of Singapore, IBIA said. The Maritime & Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) made the use of MFM systems mandatory for deliveries of all marine residual fuel oils and distillates in 2017 and 2019, respectively.
Last year, the Antwerp-Bruges Port Authority and the Port of Rotterdam Authority jointly announced plans of making the use of MFMs mandatory in the ports of Antwerp, Rotterdam, and Zeebrugge.
IBIA has urged other ports to work towards the introduction of mandatory use of MFMs to ensure a level playing field.
The use of MFMs in bunker ports globally will also help in implementing the electronic Bunker Delivery Note (electronic BDN).
“MFM is an important solution to streamline digitalisation for end-to-end bunker operations as this can support real-time measurement and operational information needed for the use of electronic BDNs,” the group further added.
IBIA supported the use of MFM during the IMO's Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) 80th session.
By Aparupa Mazumder
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