FUEL OIL ANALYSIS - SHIP STAFF DUTY

It is the duty of the chief Engineer to ensure that 'Representative Samples" collected from the bunker is despatched soon after completion of bunkers. The primary-concern of ship-staff has been historically to ensure that bunkering is carried out in a safe, efficient and environmentally friendly way and to collect evidence so as to enable an owner to defend a bunker or make a bunker claim. 

An owner must be able to provide evidence of the following in case fuel oil quantity" or quality problems arise :-

Pre - arrival checklist.

Bunker start - up and completion times.

Sounding/ullage record keeping

Bunker tank gas readings

Bunker system maintenance and testing

Compliance with procedures and best practice

Completed"bunker checklists         .

Log book entries (deck, engine and scrap log Books)

Oil record book

All bunker related communications.

Quantity problems can be avoided if comprehensive pre-loading and completion surveys are undertaken. When conducting bunker surveys, it is important to take-into account of trim correction, temp, readings and volume correction figures. In order to calculate weight of fuel loaded, the chief Engineer must know the density of fuel loaded. Unless the ship has a means of determining the density, the ship must assume that, given by supplier to be correct. On completion of bunkering the chief Engineer should, sign the bunker receipt (BDR) "for volume at observed temperatures only" simply because without confirmed knowledge of fuel density it is impossible to determine the; weight of fuel lifted.

It should be borne in mind that bunkers are stemmed by weight but delivered by volume only. Thus bunker sampling and analysis are important evidence and much will depend on the analysis of the Representative sample. The objective of fuel oil sampling is to try to obtain a truely representative sample by continuous drip throughout the bunker operation. If bunker supplier offers another sample which the ship has not witnessed, then this should be accepted by the chief Engineer but when signing for this sample he should write 'for receipt only, source unknown'.

If a dispute arises, it is important to obtain laboratory analysis results against internationally accepted, standards. Test results can give early indications of potential fuel problems as well as guidance with onboard fuel treatment. In the event of a dispute, records of fuel treatment are required including details such as which tanks are/have been used. Engineers must recognise early indications of problematic bunkers and act accordingly. It is equally important to record all actions taken and their impact. Damaged components should be retained, on board and photographic evidence/video evidence should be collated with any survey reports.

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