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As of May 10, 2014, Endofa, through its joint-venture company Oleum, is set to be the first bunker supplier in West Africa to perform bunker transfers via the use of a mass flow meter.

"Since forming Endofa and later partnering with Oleum, our mission has been to add value and do things differently. This tool will set ourselves apart and ensure correct quantity on each and every transfer," said Endofa's Kenn Soendergaard.

The introduction of mass flow meters has lately been used in Singapore as a tool to eliminate bunker fraud.

The first mass flow meter will be installed on the MT Fair Artemis in Freetown this coming week.

Fair Artemis is currently on charter to Oleum, a joint-venture company between Endofa and Dan-Bunkering.

Soendergaard said: "Bunkers are the single largest expense for a ship owner and operator. It is bad enough that the past five years in the market have been less than favorable. At the same time, we face an increase in bunker fraud on several markets that is simply unacceptable."

Insatech CEO Alan Christoffersen remarked: "The Insatech Bunker Control System consists of a flow meter solution based on the Coriolis principle which provides correct mass measurements, temperature and density. This ensures against fraudulent practices such as buy-back, bribes and signing off on false delivery notes. The system will be your guarantee that you get what you pay for. All data in the system is encrypted and tamper-proof. The system has been installed on a large number of vessels over the last six years and has been proven in practice. It is the first installation of the Bunker Control System that Insatech has performed in West Africa and we are pleased that Endofa has chosen us to deploy the latest up to date technology in order to fight bunker fraud in the region."

Commenting on the investment made by Endofa in West Africa, Jens Maul, Chairman of The International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA), said: "We should put an end to bunker fraud and ensure the customer gets what they are paying for in both quality and quantity.

"It is a large investment for the young bunker player and might even be considered risky and premature for the West African market, it is however a move in the right direction for that particular market and the bunker market and its reputation in general.

"With West African players willing to invest in the market and make such a statement, that will improve the reputation of the bunkering location and suppliers in general," stated Maul.

Soendergaard noted: "Traffic in West Africa has picked up in recent years. Although the competition is fierce, bunker fraud is simply a price factor we are not willing and able to compete on. It is very much a move to put the voting in the hands of the operators, owners and their purchasing team. Now that the option is there throughout several bunker hubs, will fraud and short supply continue to flourish or will bunker suppliers truly compete on sourcing, service and pricing?"

Endofa points out that the introduction of the mass flow meter might not reflect on their bottom line any time soon, but "it will however ensure equal competition, promote West Africa for bunkering and brand Endofa as reliable, safe and innovative."

"We will continue our mission of delivering positive energy. We want to be profitable, but not at the expense of our customers, but by mutually benefitting. In this case, we add a service that will ensure competition on true pricing," Soendergaard concluded.

Image: The Fair Artemis is currently on charter to Oleum, a joint-venture company between Endofa and Dan-Bunkering.