Lloyd’s Register (LR) and Metcore have introduced a certification service to ensure the reliability of fuel measurements using Mass Flow Meters (MFM).
This service, accredited to ISO 22192:2021 standards, assesses the installation, use, and maintenance of MFMs. According to LR, the growing demand for precise fuel delivery measurements, combined with the need for transparency and security, has led to the increasing use of MFMs in the bunker industry.
Furthermore, major ports like Singapore, SOHAR, Rotterdam, and Antwerp-Bruges are mandating MFM use by 2026 to improve bunker operations.
Mass Flow Meters (MFMs) in maritime are used to measure the exact mass of fuel delivered during bunkering operations. Unlike traditional volumetric meters, MFMs provide highly accurate readings by measuring the fuel’s mass directly, regardless of temperature or density changes. This ensures greater transparency and reduces disputes over fuel quantities.
The LR-Metcore certification service helps address shipowners’ concerns by reportedly minimizing measurement errors and ensuring long-term MFM performance. It also includes metering-data analysis and independent reviews to resolve disputes over fuel delivery.
Lewis Cox, LR’s FOBAS Business Development Area Manager, suggested that while Mass Flow Meters have the potential to eliminate bunker quantity disputes, reduce turnaround time, and increase confidence in delivery data—especially as ship operators aim to account for emissions—the adoption of these meters may not always be straightforward.
He emphasized that the new LR-Metcore MFM certification service would provide bunkering stakeholders with reassurance, ensuring that their meters are certified according to internationally recognized standards, ultimately enhancing transparency and trust in the process.
