With amendments to the Singapore Standard: Code of Practice for Bunkering1 by Bunker Barges / Tankers (SS CP60) completed, custody transfer sampling will become the new standard procedure for bunkering in the Port of Singapore, with effect from January 2002.

This is the latest initiative of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) to further improve bunkering services in our port. Last year, Singapore retained its title as the world's top bunkering port with 18.65 million tonnes of bunkers sold.

The amendments to SS CP60 was proposed by the MPA to the Singapore Productivity and Standards Board's (PSB's) Technical Committee for Bunkering in July last year. The Committee comprises representatives from the Singapore Shipping Association, Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (Singapore), Singapore Nautical Institute, Singapore Confederation of Industries, surveying companies and the MPA. Various technical and operational issues relating to the proposal were carefully deliberated, and feedback from the general shipping community were also considered, before the proposed amendments were adopted.

SS CP60

The SS CP60 was implemented by the MPA in 1997, which made Singapore the first port in the world where a national standard for bunkering was implemented by the port authority. The SS CP60 lays down the minimum requirements for bunkering, such as proper documentation and verification during a bunkering operation. The implementation of SS CP60 helps to ensure that the quality of bunkers delivered is as ordered by the buyer. The MPA requires all bunker suppliers and bunker craft operators to comply with the SS CP60 and its appendices when delivering bunkers to vessels in the port.

Custody transfer sampling

During a bunkering operation, a sample of the bunker delivered is collected and tested, if necessary, to check its quality. The current procedure is to take the sample from the bunker tanker's manifold. With the amendments to SS CP60, custody transfer sampling will become the new practice, which means that samples will be taken from the receiving vessel's bunker manifold instead.

This change in sampling location will bring the SS CP60's requirements in line with the ISO8217's specification that the properties of fuels are determined at the time and place of custody transfer. We believe that this will improve the collection of representative bunker samples, thereby meeting with the customer's requirements and enhancing bunkering services in the Port of Singapore.

End of Release.

1Bunkers are fuel for ships. Commonly, a ship takes on fuel by having a smaller vessel (bunker barge or tanker) come alongside it and transferring the bunker from the barge to the ship via a hose.