Cargo Business Newswire

Friday, April 11, 2014

Singapore to mandate bunker metering from 2017

The Port of Singapore, which handled more than 42 tons of fuel in 2013, is the world's top bunkering port. In order to improve transparency and the accuracy of bunker readings, the port plans to require the use of a new mass flow metering system, effective January 1, 2017.

Currently, bunker fuel is sold by mass but delivered by volume, which is affected by the variability of pressure and temperature. The process of delivering fuel can be a complicated and inexact process, and a fuel buyer may discover he received less than he paid for.

The new metering system allows fuel to be measured in terms of mass, which is not affected by pressure or temperature fluctuations. Correct mass flow measurements will help ensure quantity precision during transfers and improve transparency during transactions, according to Singapore's Agency for Science, Technology and Research, also known as A*STAR.

Bunker suppliers have until the end of 2016 to equip their tankers with the new mass flow metering system. To help the industry mitigate the price of adopting the new technology, the Maritime and Port Authority will offer an incentive of approximately $64,000 for each tanker. The funds will be distributed upon MPA's approval of each newly fitted mass flow metering system.

The first two MFM-certified vessels in Singapore are owned by Hong Lam Marine. The company said the cost of the new system, counting installation and staff training costs, totaled between $180,000 and $260,000.

For more of the Channel News Asia story: channelnewsasia.com