1. What are the challenges in surveying?
IBIA Annual Convention Hamburg.
Michael Green – Marine Services
Global Technical Manager – Bunker Fuel Testing

2. Bunker Quantity Survey – Why?
Bunkers are typically the largest contributor to the operational costs of a ship, with the physical transfer of fuel often taking place thousands of miles away from the contracting offices.
As neither the buyer nor the seller is present to witness the bunker quantity transfer and sampling procedures on board, any post-delivery investigation on quantity shortages is usually futile and inconclusive.
Protests, demurrages, physical shortages, legal fees, management time, loss of goodwill, inconvenience and stress can add to overall costs.

3. Bunker Quantity Survey (BQS) - Basics
Pre-delivery tank measurements of bunker tanker and receiving vessel
Post-delivery tank measurements of bunker tanker and receiving vessel
-    Sounding pipe's reference heights gauged for data check
-    Frequent soundings used to deter illegal transfer of bunker between tanks
-    Bunker temperature and vessel's trim taken for corrections
-    Monitor the presence of free water before and after delivery
Supervision of bunker operations and quality sampling procedures  
"Representative" bunker sample(s) taken and distributed to a specified
laboratory for quality testing
-    sealed with a proper label and acknowledged by all related parties
Calculations of bunker delivery quantities
Survey Reports and documentation of all measurements, delivery quantity, calculations and quality sampling presented in a systematic approach

4. Gibraltar - Bunkering - Code of Practice GOST Russian Standard
Bunkering Standards
International Standard ISO Procedures for transfer of bunkers to vessels
In Singapore we have SS600 - Singapore Standard Code of Practice for Bunkering
Gibraltar - Bunkering - Code of Practice
GOST Russian Standard

5. SS600 ‘the Singapore Bunker Bible’
Singapore Standard Code of Practice for Bunkering – SS 600, covers pre-delivery, actual delivery and post-delivery checks and documentation.
Main Aim to minimise bunker disputes
Quality & Quantity Discrepancies
MPA Issues Reminders
Ship-owners, operators and charterers should advise their officers to follow the procedures and requirements as stipulated in the SS 600 when bunkering in Singapore.
Only samples with seal numbers on BDN accepted
5 samples taken (more by agreement)
Note of protest essential
Any quality claim within 30 days
(Only applicable in Singapore)

6. Bunker Quantity Surveys - 2014
Approx BQS conducted in 2014 YTD.
These BQS have been conducted in 116 ports across the world.
Not all surveys are conducted in accordance with a recognised standard!
As a result problems / challenges are encountered.

7. Bunker Quantity Surveys - Figures

8. Bunker Quantity Surveys - Challenges

9. Bunker Quantity Surveys - Challenges
Location of the survey often dictates problems to be noted / expected.
Certain problems are witnessed regularly in certain ports.
Local knowledge provides the key for avoiding problems / discrepancies.
So………….

10. Bunker Quantity Surveys - Challenges
What do we see?
European Mediterranean port - no barge calibration tables.
US Gulf port – pre-printed BDR based on nominated quantity.
Far East port – deliveries less than nominated quantity.
Southern Hemisphere country – local regs can prevent surveyor accessing the barge

11. Bunker Quantity Surveys - Challenges

12. Bunker Quantity Surveys - Challenges
What do we see?
“two so called "magic pipes" have been found on board the vessel which were evidently placed there with the purpose of deceiving anyone relying on the vessel´s figures. Photos taken by our surveyor are attached for your ease of reference”

13. Bunker Quantity Surveys - Challenges

14. V- Net - What is ‘V-Net’?
Many Chinese ship builders are calibrating vessels tanks via the use of V-Net.
What is V Net?
VNET: Net Volume of tanks taking structural reduction into consideration
Calculated by the below formula:
VNET = VOLM x RED
VOLM: Gross volume of tanks without structural reduction
RED: Reduction coefficient due to structure in tanks, usually recognised as 0.98 in the shipbuilding industry.

15. Bunker Quantity Surveys – Dispute Management
THANK YOU!