Taking Up Fuel for the Ship - Bunkering Operations

Taking Up Fuel for the Ship - Bunkering Operations Ship Surveyor Fujairah

Taking Up Fuel for the Ship - Bunkering Operations

Taking fuel for the ship is also known as “Bunkering”. Bunkering as the ship terminology refers to taking fuel for the ship namely heavy oil (furnace oil), diesel oil and lube oil.

Bunkering of heavy oil for a ship is in Metric tonnes. The heavy oil is the bottom most grade coming out from the distilling tower coming out from a refinery. As the name refers the oil is heavy with a density going upwards from 0.92 gm/cc.

Bunkering on a normal sized ship is of a few hundred tonnes. It’s usually takes a few hours to refuel the ship (refuel).

Bunkering is done when the ship is in anchor or when she is afloat at port. The supplier vessel is usually a barge called bunker barge. If you are taking heavy oil bunkers, then all the ships tanks containing heavy oil are sounded. They include heavy oil bunker tanks, settling and service tanks, overflow tank and sludge tank. After sounding the tanks, the total quantity on board, the ship is calculated taking the trim and the list of the ship into consideration.

The above procedure is repeated on the bunker barge the only difference is all the tanks of the bunker barge are sounded. It is to be ascertained from the master or the chief officer which of the tanks in the bunker barge will be used for transferring fuel to the ship.

After the calculations for the quantity of oil on bunker barge are completed, it is to be determined as to what is the quantity of oil to be bunkered on the ship from the bunker barge and chief engineer of the ship. Once the quantity is ascertained then a flexible hose usually 6.0” in diameter is connected from the bunker barge to the ship.

Taking Up Fuel for the Ship (Bunkering Operations)

The bunkering begins, the concerned ship’s tanks which are being bunkered are sounded at regular intervals and quantity calculated. During bunkering drip sampling is done at the bunker station and fuel collected in clean containers and sealed. Usually four such bottles are used for sample collection. One of these bottles are sent to the laboratory for analysis of the fuel to confirm whether it is meeting the specifications.

Once the bunkering is completed the ships and barge tanks are sounded, and calculated to confirm whether ship has received the correct quantity of oil. After the tanks are sounded the tables provided on the ship is used to calculate the quantity received in cubic metres using the trim and heel correction. It is then converted into metric tonnes using the density provided by the bunker barge. Then volume correction factor and weight factor are used to accurately calculate the quantity received on board the ship.

As the quantity of fuel bunkered is in hundreds of metric tonnes a minor miscalculation in checking and calculating can result in loss of 20 to 30 metric tonnes of fuel. This can be a huge loss to the charterers or owners.

This is where, Constellation Marine services LLC come in. We have a team of surveyors who are well versed with bunkering, add their expertise. We give prompt service and are available 24x7. We help Masters, and Chief Engineers in overcoming the above problem. We have a satisfied clientele.

It is strongly advisable in the case of heavy oil (VLSFO) to keep those bunker tanks empty, where fresh bunkers are to be taken. The reason is to avoid comingling of fuel ie between old and new heavy oil. Comingling i.e. mixing of fuel sometimes causes sludging which causes fuel oil separators to pack up, filters to choke and damage to engine components.

If the vessel is chartered, then it is usually charterers supply of fuel. If sludging takes place or if the fuel is off spec, then this leads to a claim. Constellation with its extensive experience in Hull and Machinery claims can advise the Charterers and owners the potential pitfalls and how to overcome them.

At constellation Marine services, we are committed to offer our clients bespoke solutions and services to any requirement, through its propriety offices located all across the UAE, and its knowledge and expertise of its staff which is second to none.

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| By: Engr. Ramesh Krishnan.

Team Constellation a highly professional & experienced Master Mariners, Naval Architects, Tanker Masters, Engineers, Consultants, Marine Asset Valuers and a team of Qualified Surveyors with expertise and experience in different areas of marine activities offering round the clock services to the clients in shipping and insurance industry with direct presence at all sea ports in UAE and with offices in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Fujairah just a call away from these ports. Constellation has international offices in UK and Singapore and associates all over Middle East and UAE, London, Holland, Germany, West Africa, Cape Town, Oman, China, Singapore. Survey, Inspection,investigation Risk and Root Cause Analysis Load Test of Lifting Gears Certification Mrine & Insurance Clam Consultancy Vessel Valuation Dry Cargo Bulk Break Bulk Project Cargo Dry Container Survey Draught Survey Pre-shipment Condition Pre-shipment Condition Pre-discharge Condtion Pre-dischsrge Condition Stuffing Unstuffing Stow Cargo Damage Surey Loading Discharging Survey Taly Cagrgo Container Damage Sampling & Analysis Damage Short Landing Survey Dangerous Cargo Survey Pre-shipment Condition Stowage Plan Preparation Reefer Container Short Landing Investigation Cargo Hold Inspection Truck Inspection Lashing & Securing Certification Pti Inspection Survey Loading off Loading on Board Stowge Supervision Container Condition Survey Supervision Uld Inspection of Hatch Covers Temp Set. Vent Inspection Cargo Hold/hatch Inspection Cargo Land Transportation Stuffing Unstuffing Stow Weighment Witnessing Cargo Damage Investigation Reefer Cargo Damage Survey Sealing/unsealing Short Landing Investigation Reefer Cargo Damage Investigat Bunker Survey Petroleum On Hire/off Hire Rob Survey Vessel Tank Inspetion and Certification On Hire Off Hire Bunker & Condition Survey. Petrolem Prduct Quantify Survey Sampling & Sealing Prduct Loading Dischrging and Sampling Witnessing Sample Lab Analysis. Cargo Contamination Investigation Magnetic Compass Adjustment & Deviation Card Hull & Machinery Damge Survey Sts Operation Ism, Isps and Mlc Audits Project Cargo Transportation Loading discharging Marine Warranty Surveys Project Management & Decommissioning Supervision for Off Shore Structures Rig Moves, Location Approvals and Off Shore Warranty Inspection Prior & During Moves. Heavy Cargo Lifting Plan Review, Preparation of Stowage& Lashing Plan Towing Arrangement Plan and Tow Approvals. Collision Damage Survey, Repair Cost Estimation and Investigation P&i Pre-entry Vessel Conition Surveys Hull & Machinery Conditon Surveys Root Cause Analysis of Maritime Accidents. Issuance of Charterd Engineer Certificate for Export Machinery. Valuation Pre-purchase Conditiion Surveys & Sea Trials Marine Vessel Condition Inspection&valuation Vessel Valuation. Valuation Marine Asset, Machinery& Equipment Constellation Marine is managed by four board members UK, connected with various facets of the marine business like Maritime Law & Marine insurance individually. Constellation Marine Surveyors & Consultants are independent and professional in every of our conduct. take up appointments for ship owner, trader or insurance companies Constellation Marine has registered offices in UK, Singapore and Middle East specializing in Maritime and energy claims, offshore marine warranty inspection, ship and cargo inspections for principals, insurance companies and charterers and P&I Clubs as our main principals instructing us repeatedly global company with branches in Dubai, London, Singapore, Abu Dhabi, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Yemen Liason offices at Germany, Holland, China, west South Africa.