VPS Bunker Surveyors recorded a total 82,490 MT of undeclared bunkers final 12 months, many of which might have been prevented if stakeholders employed bunker surveyors at only a fraction of the fee, based on the worldwide gasoline testing and inspection firm’s Managing Director of AMEA.
“The statement we now have is that the engagement of the bunker surveyor to supervise the bunkering operations has taken a again seat with the onset of COVID pandemic,” Captain Rahul Choudhuri tells Singapore bunkering publication Manifold Times in an interview.
“Monitoring and management of each the operations and funds are half and parcel of good gasoline administration. Financial loss can be inevitable with out the management of the bunker operations.”
Captain Choudhuri provides 2020 to be a watershed 12 months as a result of COVID pandemic as the event resulted in restrictions carried out at numerous international locations – which impacted the maritime enterprise.
“Cost and useful resource reducing measures have been carried out and proceed to be carried out to maintain the enterprise afloat. Restrictions in the motion of personnel and secure administration measures differed from port to port and from nation to nation,” he shared.
“Nevertheless, a stability should be attained between reducing value and management of bills. We must maintain in thoughts the saying ‘penny smart pound silly’ the place the acquisition of bunkers will proceed to be the key expense for the working of the ships.”
Captain Choudhuri, additionally the co-author of a 2020-published VPS White Paper: Quantity Shortage Prevention for Marine Fuels, stated investigations protecting greater than 10,000 bunkering operations carried out in 2019 have discovered the exercise requiring the fixed presence of a educated {and professional} Bunker Surveyor.
“Failure to do that will outcome in a total bunker amount loss in the order of US$96,200 per vessel per 12 months,” he states.
“The engagement of a VPS Bunker Surveyor at roughly 15% of this value won’t solely get monetary savings, however considerably cut back administration stress, time and status.”
Findings of VPS Bunker Surveyors from 2020 until up to now
Captain Choudhuri continued to share some related case research recorded by VPS Bunker Surveyors from 2020 until up to now throughout the important thing bunker survey stations of Singapore, Rotterdam, Fujairah, and Houston.
- In May 2020, undeclared bunkers of 229.155 MT was discovered on vessel A.
- In July 2020, undeclared bunkers of 301.013 MT was discovered on vessel B.
- In August 2020, undeclared bunkers of 198.943 MT was discovered on vessel C.
- In September 2020, undeclared bunkers of 204.027 MT was discovered on vessel D.
- In September 2020, undeclared bunkers of 158.375 MT was discovered on vessel E.
- In January 2021, undeclared bunkers of 111.332 MT was discovered on vessel F.
- In January 2021, undeclared bunkers of 119.316 MT was discovered on vessel G.
- In February 2021, undeclared MGO was discovered in LO tank & vessel’s H crew suspected of fraudulent observe & documented.
- In March 2021, undeclared bunkers of 129.734 MT was discovered on vessel I.
- In March 2021, sampling dispute was documented the place the provider wrongly claimed that sampling at custody switch on vessel J was not witnessed.
“This knowledge corroborates with the VPS White Paper on Quantity Shortage Prevention for Martine Fuels launched on twenty second July 2020 the place we have been capable of present that failure to regulate the bunkering course of may end up in bunker amount loss of US$96,200 per vessel per 12 months,” he explains.
“On common, the place ROB surveys are performed, extra bunkers of 15 MT per vessel has been discovered. This interprets to US$5,000 per bunkering or US$50,000 value financial savings per vessel per 12 months.
“The Bunker Surveyor acts because the ‘eyes & ears’ for the already busy vessel’s Chief Engineer, supervising the total bunker operation and taking care of the bunker supply, present native data, full all the mandatory paperwork, guarantee correct sampling & distribution, and quick pattern dispatch to the closest VPS laboratory.
“Thus the position of the Bunker Surveyor can’t be underestimated or uncared for in dangerous occasions because it provides worth to the general administration of the acquisition of bunkers.”
Photo credit score: VPS
Published: 14 April, 2021
