BUNKER FUEL
The process of bunkering involves delivering fuel or marine gas oil to ships' generators and propulsion systems. It can be done offshore by bunker barge/vessel via STS, or onshoreby tanker trucks or pipes via bunker hoses.
Verifying the bunker's quantity is crucial because it is provided in volume but paid for in weight. A poor bunker can damage the generators and the propulsion engine, so in addition to quantity, quality control of the bunker must be ensured during bunkering by employing sample bottles fastened to the bunker manifold.
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What does a Ship Bunker Mean?
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The process of bunkering involves delivering fuel or marine gas oil to ships' generators and propulsion systems. It can be done offshore, where a bunker barge transports fuel to the ship, or onshore, where bunkers are delivered by tanker trucks or pipes via bunker hoses.Verifying the bunker's quantity is crucial because it is provided in volume but paid for in weight. A poor bunker can damage the generators and the propulsion engine, so in addition to quantity, quality control of the bunker must be ensured during bunkering by employing sample bottles fastened to the bunker manifold.
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What are the Responsibilities when Bunker a Ship?
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In order to prevent oil leaks on the water that could affect the environment, bunkering operations require complete attention. For this reason, specific individuals are given tasks to do during the process, like:
Chief Engineer: The main designated person to ensure smooth ship bunkering.
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Before bunkering, everyone will report to him. He will go over all safety concerns and go over all applicable state, local, and federal laws. Furthermore, the Chief Engineer will personally inform the ship's Master to seek authorization to start bunkering after the designated staff involved in the transfer have a clear understanding of their responsibilities.
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Any particular instructions about the transfer will be noted by the Chief Engineer in the Engineer logbook, and his subordinates will follow those notes. He will also be responsible for signing and checking the Declaration of Inspection Form.
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The following individuals will support the Chief Engineer in organizing and carrying out oil transfers:
​The Second (2nd) Engineer
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Since he is the Second in Command of the Engine Department, the Second (2nd) Engineer will ensure that every tank and valve is carefully checked. Along with overseeing them, he will inform the engine crew of any updates during the bunkering procedure.
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By hearing the tanks and using the tank calibration book, the Second (2nd) Engineer will also help the chief engineer determine how much fuel is being transported on occasion.​
Third (3rd) Engineer
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When bunkering, the Third (3rd) Engineer will support the chief engineer. He is in charge of the designated motormen under his supervision when bunkering. In addition, he is in responsible of inspecting the fuel system, vent pipes, sounding pipes, fuel valve opening and closing, drip pan containment, and flange connections for proper operation.
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Prior to the transfer, he has to make sure that every fuel oil containment is empty, check that fuel is sounding in every tank, and make a note in the sounding logbook.
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Engine Crew/Motormen/Oilers
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The designated Engine Crew/Motormen/Oiler will support the on-duty Third (3rd) Engineer. Every ten minutes, he will take soundings and assess the overall safety of the deck's surroundings. The other oiler assigned will keep an eye on the manifold area and report pressure levels on a regular basis.
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What to inspect on ships before, during, and after bunkering?
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Prior to starting any bunkering operation, make sure that every person assigned to the task has a copy of the bunkering plan. This will allow them to know exactly how much will be loaded into the bunker tanks and what the final sounding on the pipes will be.​
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When it comes to fuel oil, the leftover fuel needs to be moved to a single tank in order to prevent it from contaminating the freshly bunkered gasoline. However, before the bunkering procedure is carried out, a compatibility test must be completed in the event that fuel is still needed and the tank needs to be filled. If the two fuels are compatible, the new fuel can be added to the tank alongside the old fuel; if not, bunkering will be discontinued, and the amount of gasoline loaded onto the ship must be agreed upon by all parties.
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A Procedure/Checklist for Bunkering Vessels
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The assigned person is now to check off everything on the bunkering Procedure/Checklist after the team has been briefed on the current situation. Among them are:
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Are the hoses used for bunkering in good condition?
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Are dip trays in the proper position and are bunkering hoses connected correctly?
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Are the receiving tank's valves open?Has the receiving tank's capacity been checked?
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Does the assigned staff know the highest percentage that can be put into the tanks?
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Do the scuppers have power?Have both sides agreed on the communication system and channel?
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Have both parties agreed upon the operation procedured?
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Are the SOPEP supplies, fire hoses, and absorbent cloths readily available and ready for use in an emergency?
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Are the flanges bolted firmly and the transfer hose rigged correctly?
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Continuous Drip Feed Samples - Collected, Sealed, Distributed after Bunkering.
Quantity and Density of Bunker Fuel
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To determine how many tons of gasoline the ship actually receives, it is essential to know the precise density of the fuel, which is given in volume but paid for by weight. This can be accomplished by taking the bunker's temperature on the barge.
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Additionally, if the fuel has a lot of air in it, it can be made to appear as though it has a larger volume than it actually has. Another name for this is the "cappuccino effect." Therefore, if the quantitative determination of fuel is not handled appropriately, the company may suffer significant financial losses.
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Always sound the tanks that are going to be filled, and assign someone to examine the sounding of the fuel tank on the barge and the calibration table they are using to ensure that the amount of gasoline bunkered is accurate.
Sampling of Bunker Fuel
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The designated crew is responsible for promptly reporting the sounding of the tanks and the pressure on the manifold during bunkering on ships
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.In order to take fuel samples and send them ashore for examination, a "continuous drip feed sampler" needs to be attached to the manifold. The needle valve needs to be adjusted and watched over during the bunkering procedure to ensure that samples are collected.
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In addition, the fuel sample bottle needs to hold enough samples to fill all the subsequent containers that will be required. The ship needs to collect the following samples: the MRPOL sample, the ship's retain sample, the bunker barge's retain sample, the sample for the shore analysis, and, in the event that a bunker surveyor is present, a sample for himself. Furthermore, the bunker barge is required to provide the ship with an appropriately obtained fuel sample from their manifold.
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Continuous Drip Feed Sampler
Note on Bunker Delivery (BDN)
The bunker delivery note is required by MARAPOL standards to document the specifics of fuel oil delivered to the ship for combustion and its intended usage on board. For this reason, a BDN is crucial and must to be provided for each delivery. Moreover, the BDN needs to be maintained up to date and available at all times. The delivery party's representative must sign the BDN to attest to the following:
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The fuel that is provided has the specified sulfur content.
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That no personnel iharm nor air pollution will result from it.
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That it contains no additional materials, inorganic additions, or chemical waste.
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That fuel won't negatively impact the items of machinery equipment
However, it's possible that the BDN is ready prior to delivery. But the delivery reality may not be reflected in this. Therefore, it is recommended that no paperwork, tags, or labels be signed prior to the completion of bunkering.
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Conflicts in Ship Bunkering
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Conflicts may arise if there is insufficient gasoline or if the fuel's quality is a problem. Therefore, disagreements should be resolved as soon as feasible and amicably. This is due to the fact that disagreements might involve costly and time-consuming processes.Furthermore, the highest odds of winning a disagreement are those that arise from gathering all the data and facts required to identify the source of the issue. Finally, ensure that you maintain accurate records and have sound procedures in place to prevent disagreements from starting in the first place.
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Why do Oil Spills Occur when Bunkering?
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When bunkering, hose breakage or even loose bolt-on flanges can result in oil spillage. Not to mention misunderstandings or the attendant's carelessness on the manifold.
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Sometimes it is the result of crew members who are unskilled and have been assigned responsibility for the bunkering process, or it is due to unopened valves to the entry of the tank that needs to be filled.
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All of these unfavorable occurrences will cause the business to have financial difficulties and, worse still, endanger the environment that we ought to be protecting in the first place. Have a pre-bunkering briefing to remind and direct the crew on what to do and what to watch out for in order to avert this terrible incident. Remind them that stopping the oil from leaking overboard is the first thing to do in the event of a real leak.
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In a nutshell, bunkering is the process of supplying fuel to ships so they can burn it for propulsion and generators. Regrettably, improper execution of bunkering procedures may result in unintended consequences like oil spills.
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Make careful to inspect everything prior to bunkering in order to ensure a safe operation. Verify all the valves that require opening and closing again, as well as the hoses, spill bins, and tanks that require filling. Don't forget to brief every employee participating in the operation.
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In order to have information and facts that can be useful if there is a deficiency of amount and quality of fuel that could lead to conflicts, lastly, make sure to sound both your tanks and the bunker barge's tanks.
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Compatibility Test On A Ship
OPTION 1 :
Bunkering OPL - Miri, Indonesia via STS
