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Shipping consultancy Metcore International Pte Ltd says that, following the development of mass flow meter (MFM) bunkering in Singapore, it has received "many enquiries" from bunker suppliers in other ports to assist in the installation and system accreditation of MFMs.

As from January 2017, the use of MFMs will be mandatory for marine fuel deliveries in Singapore. The Singapore Mass Flow Meter (MFM) Technical Reference, or TR 48:2015, was launched by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) on 16th February 2016 in support of the mandatory use of MFM systems for all marine fuel deliveries in Singapore. It sets out specific criteria for MFM system integrity, acceptance testing, delivery procedures and the documentation for bunker custody transfer.

Metcore says the guidelines "comprehensively lead to the operation of MFM bunkering to be within the variance of the expanded uncertainty level of 0.5%. Fuel buyers enjoy the benefits of transparent and accurate bunker delivery receipts and fewer disputes".

As previously reported by Bunker Index, ExxonMobil introduced its second independently accredited MFM system in Hong Kong on board the bunker vessel Anelly in August; this followed the introduction of the first independently accredited MFM in Hong Kong, fitted on the Anshing barge. Both Metcore and Lloyd's Register were involved in helping ExxonMobil attain accreditation for the vessels.

Earlier this month, Chemoil Middle East DMCC confirmed that its three time-chartered and owned barges in Fujairah - MT Marine Ista, MT Heredia Sea and MT Lorenzo Sea - had been fitted with mass flow meters developed by the Swiss manufacturer Endress+Hauser AG (E+H), and had passed a TR 48 acceptance test. Lloyd's Register, Metcore, the National Metrology Centre (NMC) of Singapore and A*STAR collaborated together to certify the barge systems to Singapore's TR 48 standard.

The three Chemoil vessels have a total intermediate fuel oil (IFO) capacity of 19,500 metric tonnes and a marine gas oil (MGO) capacity of 2,200 metric tonnes; they are able to carry out deliveries in both Fujairah and Khor Fakkan.

"As an RO (Recognised Organisation) Lloyd's Register is uniquely placed together with Metcore and A*STAR NMC in ensuring MFM system accreditation is carried out in line with best practices as outlined in TR 48 in other ports apart from Singapore," said Douglas Raitt, Lloyd's Register Regional Consultancy Manager.

"The stakeholders are beginning to appreciate the importance of the technical reference on MFM bunkering as it assures them of the system integrity and operation consistency," remarked Darrick Pang, Metcore's managing director.

"In forthcoming years, with demand from fuel buyers driving uptake of MFM systems, the industry will see more independently accredited tankers in accordance to TR 48:2015, in different ports around the world," Metcore added.