IBIA, with support from BIMCO, is launching an online survey to identify to which extent the maritime industry believes there is a need for wider adoption of bunker licensing schemes and mass flow metering (MFM) to improve market conditions.
In a bid to improve transparency in the bunker industry, in order to minimise scope for malpractice and reduce disputes over the quantity and quality of fuels supplied to ships, both IBIA and BIMCO are working for effective bunker licencing schemes, preferably introducing mass flow meters, to be implemented in bunker hubs around the world.
IBIA formed the IBIA Bunker Licensing & MFM Working Group in 2021 to identify key elements of bunker licensing programmes:
IBIA’s ambition is to create greater alignment and transparency across bunker ports and strengthen the credibility of our industry by the use of MFM
said IBIA Chairman Henrik Zederkof, who was instrumental in getting this initiative underway.
A bunker licence sets the conditions to allow bunker suppliers and bunker barge providers to operate within a specific jurisdiction. It will specify certain minimum requirements to obtain and keep permission to operate within the jurisdiction covered by the bunker licence.
The specific requirements may vary but an effective bunker licensing program is intended to make sure that the licence holders meet the minimum requirements set out in the licence, and that failure to comply will have severe consequences.
Commenting on the launch of the survey, David Loosley, BIMCO Secretary General and CEO, noted that the implementation of licensing schemes that award high quality fuel oil suppliers will help improve the level of quality of the fuel delivered and provide significant financial savings for shipowners and bunker suppliers.
The partners now seek wide industry participation in this survey to gain insight into the need and appetite for wider implementation of these measures.
The online survey will take approximately 7-10 minutes to complete, and all responses will be treated in confidence.
