(EnergyAsia, July 16 2012, Monday) — A tanker, owned by Hong Lam Marine Pte Ltd and chartered by an ExxonMobil subsidiary, has become the first in Singapore to use an officially-approved mass flow metering system for bunker fuel transfers.

The custody transfer between the bunker tanker MT Emissary and Kota Layang on July 11 took place slightly over a month after the system had been approved by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) on June 1. The Kota Layang is operated by one of Asia’s largest ship-owners, Pacific International Lines (PIL).

According to the MPA, ExxonMobil Marine Fuels (EMMF) has been actively involved in a working group comprising industry stakeholders, led by MPA and SPRING Singapore, to develop and validate the use of a reliable and accurate system for mass flow meters in bunkering operations in Singapore.

Prior to the custody transfer, the mass flow meter was verified and sealed by the Weights and Measures Office (WMO) under SPRING Singapore.

Working in collaboration with industry and technical experts, EMMF, Hong Lam Marine Pte Ltd, MPA and SPRING Singapore developed the mass flow metering system and procedures for bunker deliveries by MT Emissary. Several trials were successfully carried out on the tanker to validate the performance and ensure the integrity of the system before it was approved by the MPA.

Parry Oei, MPA’s Director for Port Services, said:

“The transfer of bunkers using the mass flow metering system as another official custody measurement of bunker quantity is a significant milestone for the bunkering industry in Singapore. As the world’s largest bunkering port, Singapore sees more than 40 million tonnes in bunker sales each year.

“It is important for us to leverage on technology to enhance the efficiency and transparency of the bunker delivery process. We have set aside S$1 million from the Maritime Innovation and Technology Fund to support further research, development and test-bedding of mass flow meters for bunkering applications.” (US$1=S$1.25).

Seah Khen Hee, the key convenor of the working group, said: “The activities of the group, together with MPA, SPRING and in partnership with ExxonMobil, support the validation and endorsement of a mass metering option for the bunker industry in Singapore with tangible benefits for both deliverer and customer in the form of a secure and accurate system, enhanced transparency, improved efficiency and cost effectiveness.”

EMMF’s Asia Pacific general manager, Damon Davis, said: “We are proud to be the first supplier in Singapore to launch a mass flow metering system that has been approved by MPA for the commercial transfer of bunker fuel.

“Technology, coupled with expertise and knowledge of the bunkering process, has allowed us to elevate measurement integrity to a new level. ExxonMobil is constantly evolving to better serve our customers and we believe that the mass flow metering solution will further increase the efficiency and transparency of the bunkering process.”

EMMF, a global business in the ExxonMobil Fuels, Lubricants & Specialties Marketing Company, is a leading supplier of marine fuels to a range of passenger and cargo vessels including container, dry bulk, cruise ships, ferries, tugboats, tankers and fishing vessels.

The MPA was established in February 1996 to develop Singapore as a premier global hub port and international maritime centre, and to advance and safeguard the nation’s strategic maritime interests.

SPRING Singapore is an agency under the Ministry of Trade and Industry responsible for helping Singapore enterprises grow and building trust in Singapore products and services.