The Port of Ceuta has announced the mandatory implementation of internationally ISO 22192-certified and calibrated Mass Flow Meters (MFMs) for marine fuel supply by barge, effective February 2025, becoming the first Mediterranean port to do so
As announced, the Port Authority of Ceuta has taken a decisive step in modernizing the marine fuel supply industry, becoming the first Mediterranean port to mandate the use of international ISO 22192 certified and calibrated Mass Flow Meters (MFMs) for marine fuel supply by barge.
The International Bunker Industry Association welcomed the Port of Ceuta’s decision, highlighing that this initiative is a positive step towards modernising the marine fuel supply industry and improving transparency.
IBIA has long supported the adoption of Mass Flow Meters across global bunkering hubs as they help increase measurement accuracy, reduce discrepancies, and build trust between suppliers and buyers.
While this is a step forward, IBIA also highlights the importance of having the right regulations and procedures in place to make sure the transition to MFMs is smooth and consistent across the industry. Clear guidelines and solid processes are key to ensuring the success of such initiatives and maintaining trust in bunkering operations.
This development is in line with IBIA’s ongoing push to see bunker licensing schemes, ideally incorporating MFMs, adopted in key global bunkering hubs.
Many ports are making moves and mandating the use of mass flow meters by 2026, in order to streamline their bunker operations. To remind, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) will implement the updated mandatory bunker mass flow metering standard from 1 April 2025.
In addition, from 1 January 2026, the use of a Mass Flow Meter (MFM) bunker measurement system for bunker vessels in the ports of Antwerp-Bruges and Rotterdam will also be mandatory.
What are Mass Flow Meters?
The automated MFM system is meant to dispense with conventional sounding of the MFO in bunker tanks as the quantity of oil transferred from the bunker vessel to the receiving vessel will be automatically measured by the MFM device as the oil passes through the device.
Mass flow meters (MFMs) play a crucial role in bunkering operations, especially in the maritime industry, where accurate measurement of fuel consumption is essential. MFMs provide precise measurements of the mass flow rate of fuel as it is transferred from the bunker barge or terminal to the receiving vessel. This is particularly important where large quantities of fuel are transferred, and accuracy is critical for both commercial and regulatory reasons.