Author: The North of England P&I Association Ltd
Published: August 2019
This guide aims to assist seagoing officers, vessel operators, vessel managers and time charterers in understanding what can go wrong when purchasing, bunkering and using marine fuels and what steps can be taken to prevent them and mitigate their impact. It explores the subject of marine fuels, from the production and refining process all the way to burning in the vessel’s engines. The nature and characteristics of marine fuels is discussed along with purchasing, contractual obligations, loading, handling, sampling and testing. The guide finishes by looking at claims management and the all-important collection of evidence.
Increasingly stringent environmental regulation has placed more demands on seafarers and operators. Compliance with the global sulphur cap in 2020 has driven the demand for new compliant fuels and new technology. This guide considers this change in the landscape, with a particular focus on the increasing use of LNG as a marine fuel.
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION
Purpose of this guide
2020 – a new era
Resolving disputes
PRODUCTION AND REFINING OF MARINE FUELS Characteristics of crude oils
Refinery process
Marine fuel products
Biofuels
LNG as a marine fuel
TYPES AND CHARACTERISTICS OF MARINE FUELS Grades
Quality characteristics
Standards for marine fuels
LNG as a marine fuel
PURCHASING MARINE FUELS
Specifying the right fuel
Delivery contracts
Confirmation of stem
Supplier’s standard terms and conditions
Terms implied by law
Bunkers supplied by charterer
LNG as a marine fuel
BUNKERING
Safe handling
General procedures and standards
Bunker checklist
Bunker delivery note
Letter of protest
LNG as a marine fuel
QUANTITY MEASUREMENT
Methods of determining quantity
Mass flow meters
Bunker surveys
Fuel foul play
LNG as a marine fuel
FUEL SAMPLING AND TESTING
Sampling
Testing
LNG as a marine fuel
ON-BOARD STORAGE AND TREATMENT
Fuel storage and transfer systems
Fuel treatment systems
LNG as a marine fuel
ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE
MARPOL Annex VI
Regional and national regulations
Fuel oil non-availability
Alternative technologies
Other emission-related pollutants
LNG as a marine fuel
CLAIMS MANAGEMENT AND COLLECTING EVIDENCE Action in the event of a quality dispute
Action in the event of a quantity dispute
Impact on insurance
APPENDICES
Recommended clauses
Draft letters
No lien provisions
INDEX
