Shipmaster's Bunkering Manual 2022

Author: BIMCO & IBIA

Published: October 2022

This publication aims to provide the industry with an important tool for everyone involved directly in bunkering to be fully aware of how to execute bunkering in practice.

The manual covers the fuel types, regulations and contracts directly associated with marine fuels as well as detailing the origin and supply chain of marine bunkers. It also details bunkering procedures and explains the process of measuring and calculating the contents of supply vessel and ship’s tanks before and after a bunker delivery.

Table of Contents

Foreword

Definitions and Acronyms

Chapter 1 Fuel types, regulations and contracts

1.1 Risk and importance

1.2 Marine fuel oil

1.3 Key regulations

1.4 Contracts and charter parties

Chapter 2 Origin and supply chain of marine bunkers

2.1 Bunker nomination and quantity

2.2 What to bunker

2.3 What to do if sulphur compliant fuel is not available

2.4 Port-specific rules

2.5 The role of the agent

2.6 Preparing the bunker lines, tanks, fuel distribution and management systems

2.7 Sampling preparation and equipment

2.8 Bunker Delivery Note (BDN)

2.9 Certificates of quality

2.10 Bunker nomination

2.11 Checklists

2.12 Bunker checklist aide-memoire

Chapter 3 Bunkering procedure

3.1 The roles of the members of the ship bunkering team

3.2 MARPOL delivered sample and samples for commercial use

3.3 Monitoring of the bunkering process

3.4 Spills

3.5 Health and safety during a bunkering operation

3.6 Checklists

Chapter 4 Calculation of bunker quantity

4.1 Calculation of bunker quantity

4.2 Sample storage

4.3 Bunker fuel comingling and compatibility testing

4.4 Interpretation of fuel quality test data – commercial and statutory considerations

4.5 Oil Record Book (ORB)

4.6 When things go wrong

4.7 Storage of bunker fuels

4.8 Checklist after completion of the bunkering operation

Annexes