Manifold Times | VPS TALKS: DETECTION

By Abdul Ghani, VPS Senior Sales Manager, Singapore

 

How VPS Works To Uncover Corrupt Bunkering Practices

However many safeguards are put in place, there are all the time some who will exit of their solution to attempt to cheat the system.

On the first January 2017, The Maritime Port Authority (MPA) of Singapore launched the obligatory supply of marine bunker gas through Mass Flow Meter (MFM). This transition from sounding-based measurements to MFMs, was designed to offer a regulated degree enjoying discipline for all stakeholders and assist keep away from any malpractice.

The following case, reveals the way it doesn’t all the time work out as deliberate….

How Illegal Bunkering Practices Cost Owners US$336,930

Between October 2018 to April 2019, the press reported the usage of magnets to affect MFM readings in favour of the bunker provider. In June 2021, the Singapore court docket sentenced two bunker provide firm administrators with a 35-month and 34-month jail sentence, on account of their position in a conspiracy to tamper with the MFM methods onboard a bunker tanker.

The court docket was proven that by intentionally inserting an industrial-grade magnet [camouflaged to match its surroundings] at a sure level on the MFM, it considerably influenced the recorded mass circulate fee (MFR) on the Bunker Metering Computer (BMC).

This motion resulted within the BMC erroneously recording a better MFR, falsely indicating a higher mass of marine gas being delivered into the receiving vessels. This unlawful motion resulted in a complete lack of US$336,930 for 14 vessels throughout that interval.

A request by the authorities to have the MFM vendor evaluation the info from the BMC on the 2 supply barges revealed a minimum of 66 bunkering operations throughout which the MFM had been tampered with.

How VPS Bunker Surveyor Help Avoid Malpractice

This case completely highlights the industrial worth of using the providers of extremely expert and competent bunker surveyors. VPS surveyors are skilled in precisely monitoring gas supply in strict accordance with the Singapore Standard, SS:648, to assist keep away from such malpractice.

VPS will even verify for any breach of system integrity and the standing of the essential alarm. Having a surveyor’s watchful eye to detect unlawful actions additionally sends a robust sign to barge and vessel crew to not undertake any supposed non-compliance.

VPS BQS supplies each buyer with educated {and professional} surveyors who comply with strict work procedures and documentation to precisely management the bunkering operations. Our zero tolerance coverage to deprave practices signifies that any criminality is minimized, if not eradicated. To learn the way VPS BQS providers can save $81, 200 per vessel per 12 months, please learn: VPS White Paper: Quantity Shortage Prevention for Marine Fuels

For additional data relating to VPS BQS providers, please contact: [email protected]

 

Photo credit score: VPS
Published: 21 July, 2021

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