Ship bunkering operation, DISPUTE ON CORRET QUANTITY & QUALITY AND BDN

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Bunkering is one operation on ship which has been the reason for several pollution related incidents in the past. Bunkering operation requires utmost care and alertness to prevent any kind of fire accident or oil spill. Chief engineer is the overall in charge of a bunkering operation. So, before bunkering operation chief engineer should plan in the following way:-
1) He should calculate and check which tanks are to be filled once he receives confirmation from the shore office about the amount of fuel to be received.
2) It might be required to empty some tanks and transfer the oil from one tank to other. This is required so as to prevent mixing of two oils and prevent incompatibility between the previous oil and new oil.
3) A meeting should be held between the members that will take part in bunkering operation and should be discussed about the whole process regarding tanks to be filled, sequence of filling, contingency plan etc.
4) Bunkering checklist should be filled up and no items should be missed.
                After making fast the bunker barge with ship chief engineer should check the supplier valid license issued by implementing authorities. Chief engineer should check that following documents are present on board the barge:-
1) Bunker requisition form:- This will tell that the supplier has to supply what quantity and quality of bunker. This will indicate viscosity, density, water content, flash point etc.
2) Tank measurement/ calculation form:- This form is to record the gauging and cargo temperature readings as witnessed by chief engineer.
3) Non cargo tank declaration form:- It is the declaration by cargo officer of the measurements and content of non cargo tanks and spaces before bunkering. The chief engineer should be allowed to verify the declaration.
4) Chief engineer should always check that the specification of bunker to be supplied is as per ISO 8217 latest edition which is fourth edition 2010. Apart from other requirements two new things have been added in both distillate and residual fuels, which are
     a) Acid number limits included:-             For distillate fuel- 0.5 mg KOH/ gm  
                                                                  For residual fuel -  2.5 mg KOH/gm
     b) Hydrogen sulphide                 :-    From 1st JULY 2012 the limit is 2mg/ Kg


After the checks of documents and bunker quantity on barge, chief engineer should ensure that sampling points are fixed. Sampling should be taken at one point only. All sampling should be carried out either at barge manifold or ship’s manifold. The sample must be representative of the total delivery and ideally taken by ‘drip feed’ at the discharge side of manifold, during the course of pumping.
                         After deciding the location of sampling and sampling procedure, hose should be connected. Barge master has to show valid hose pressure testing certificate to chief engineer. It shall be chief engineer’s responsibility to prepare the vessel for receiving bunkers including removing the blank flanges from the bunker manifolds, fitting gaskets and connecting hose. After connecting hose bunkering can be started after confirmation by chief engineer.

ENSURING CORRECT QUANTITY:-
It is chief engineer’s responsibility to ensure that the actual received quantity is exactly what has been ordered. To ensure this the ‘ Tank measurement/ calculation’ form shall again be used to calculate the bunker remaining on barge after delivery. The delivered quantity shall be based on the bunker barge/ vessels tank measurement and calculation as witnessed by both the chief engineer and cargo officer. The calculation shall be based on the opening and closing gauges of the bunker barge tanks and cargo temperature as witnessed by both chief engineer and cargo officer.
                 In case of any dispute regarding quantity of bunker received, the chief engineer of vessel should raise a note of protest which shall be signed by both parties. An independent surveyor may then be called to investigate the findings. This should be entered in log book or oil record book.
                    This letter of protest should be delivered to supplier at the time or immediately after completion of bunker, in the absence of which, any claim or complaint shall be deemed absolutely waived. The master of bunker barge can also raise a letter of protest if he disagrees with the alleged shortage.  As per standard BIMCO bunker clause, within 15 days of delivery of such fuel and letter of protest handed over to supplier as aforesaid, the customer must submit to the company a formal claim in writing specifying precisely the extent of short delivery.
ENSURING CORRECT QUALITY:-
To ascertain about the quality of bunker, it is necessary to take the samples in prescribed manner. The sample should be divided into 4 or 5 subsamples. Out of these one should be sent to laboratory for analysis by the ship. The supplier has the duty to provide ship with MARPOL sample and the seal number of this must be recorded in the BDN, along with seal numbers of other samples. If the ship’s sample report comes and it shows bunker to be of lower quality or not as per specification, ship staff should tender a complaint regarding quality. As per BIMCO standard bunker clause this complaint should be tendered within 30 days of delivery. After receiving the complaint the supplier will send their sample to laboratory and will match its result with ship’s one. Otherwise both can choose an independent laboratory for testing the sample.
IMPORTANCE OF BDN AND STATUTORY REQUIREMENT:-
As per MARPOL 73/78 annex VI regulation 18, after completion of bunkering, details of fuel oil for combustion purposes delivered to and used on board shall be recorded by means of bunker delivery note(BDN). BDN will include the following:-
1) Name and IMO number of receiving ship.
2) Bunkering port
3) Name, address, and telephone number of marine fuel supplier.
4) Product name.
5) Quantity in metric tons.
6) Density at 15 degree Celsius
7) Sulphur content.
8) A declaration signed and certified by the fuel oil supplier’s representative that the fuel oil supplied is in conformity with regulation 14 and 18 of Annex VI.
BDN should be kept on board for at least 3 years and should be readily available for inspection. In case of any dispute regarding quality or quantity this serves as a vital document.
                                                                                                                                                                       

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