In this article we will learn aboutthe bunkering procedure on a ship and what are the important points that are tobe taken into consideration while bunkering.
Bunkering Procedure
Before Bunkering
1. The chief engineer shouldcalculate and check which bunker/fuel oil tanks are to be filled after hereceives confirmation from the shore office about the amount of fuel to bereceived.
2. It might be required to emptysome tanks and transfer the oil from one tank to other. This is required so asto prevent mixing of two oils and prevent incompatibility between the previousoil and the new oil.
3. A meeting should be held betweenthe members that will take part in the bunkering process and they should beexplained about the following:-
· Which tanks are to be filled.
· Sequence order of tanks to be filled.
· How much bunker is to be taken.
· Emergency procedure in case oil spill occurs.
· Responsibilities of each officer are explained.
4. Sounding is taken beforebunkering and record is made.
5. A checklist is to be filled sothat nothing is missed on.
6. All deck scuppers and save alltrays are plugged.
7. Overflow tank is checked to beempty.
8. Adequate lighting at bunker andsounding position is to be provided.
9. No smoking notice should bepositioned.
10. On board communication betweenthe people involved in bunkering is made.
11. Red flag/light is presented onmasthead.
12. Opposite side bunkermanifold valves are closed and blanked properly.
13. Vessel draught and trim isrecorded before bunkering.
14. All equipments inSOPEP(shipboard oil pollution emergency plan) locker are checked to be inplace.
15. When barge is secured to theship side, the persons involved on barge are also explained about the bunkerplan.
16. Barge paperwork is checked forthe oil’s grade and the density if they are as per the specification.
17. The pumping rate of bunker isagreed with the barge.
18. The hose is then connected tothe manifold.
19. All the valves required are openand checked.
20. Proper communication between thebarge and the ship is to be established.
21. Sign and signals are to befollowed as discussed in case of communication during emergency.
22. After this, the manifold valveis open for bunkering.
During Bunkering1. During start of the bunker thepumping rate is kept low, this is done so as to check that the oil is coming tothe tank to which the valve is opened.
2. After confirming the oil iscoming to the proper tank the pumping rate is increased as agreed before.
3. Generally only one tank fillingis preferred because gauging of more than one tank at a time increases thechances of overflow.
4. The max allowable to which tankis filled is 90 % and when the tank level reaches about to maximum levelthe barge is told to pump at low pumping rate so as to top up the tank, andthen the valve of other tank is opened.
5. During bunkering, sounding istaken regularly and the frequency of sounding is more when the tank is near tofull. Many vessels have tank gauges which show tank level in control room butthis is only to be relied if the system is working properly.
6. The temperature of bunker is alsoto be checked; generally the barge or supplier will provide the bunkertemperature. Temperature above this may lead to shortfall in bunker.
7. A continuous sample is takenduring bunkering with the help of sampling cock at the manifold.
After Bunkering
1. Draught and trim of the ship ischecked.
2. Take sounding of all the tanksbunkered.
3. The volume bunkered should becorrected for trim, heel and temperature correction.
4. In general for each degree ofincrease in temperature the density should be reduced by 0.64 kg/m3.
5. Four samples are taken duringbunkering. One is kept onboard, one for barge, one for analysis, one for portstate or IMO. One sample is given to barge.
6. The chief engineer will sign thebunker receipt and the amount of bunker received.
7. If there is any shortfall ofbunker received the chief engineer can issue a note of protest against thebarge/supplier.
8. After everything is settled thehose connection is removed.
9. The sample is sent for laboratoryanalysis.
10. The new bunker should not beused until the report from the lab.
