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Taking the Lead in
Bunkering
Bunkering is the process of supplying fuels to ships for their own use, and Singapore is one of the largest and most important bunkering port in the world. Since 1992, when the Singapore Bunkering Procedure was introduced to establish a common standard for bunker delivery, Singapore has introduced several standards to raise the bar on bunkering – the SS 600 on bunkering procedures and the SS 524 on quality management for bunker supply chain.
Given its abiding interest, Singapore was nominated to lead the development of the ISO’s first international standard for bunkering practices. Developed in 1998, and subsequently revised in 2010, the ISO 13739 Procedures for Transfer of Bunkers to Vessels was broadly based on Singapore Standards.
Singapore’s latest initiative involves the mass flow meter (MFM) and its implementation. Since 1 January 2017, the MFM is mandatory for all marine fuel oil deliveries in Singapore, the first country in the world to mandate the use of the MFM system.
The MFM system replaces the manual method commonly used in determining the transfer of fuel from the bunkering barge to the receiving ship. It is a far more accurate system, as it shows the actual mass of fuel delivered in line with the marine fuel industry’s practice of selling by mass, unlike the manual method which measures the bunkers delivered by volume. With the new rule, disputes involving bunker liftings at the Singapore port are expected to be a thing of the past.
To help the industry defray the cost of installation, the MPA is providing companies a lump sum incentive of S$80,000 for each existing bunker tanker.
Singapore has also widened its fuel supplies to include liquefied natural gas (LNG), a cleaner fossil fuel, in line with growing international regulatory requirements and stricter standards for emissions.
Promoting Maritime Innovation
Singapore has stepped up its research and development (R&D) endeavours to put it at the forefront of new maritime technologies. By encouraging innovation and leveraging on technology, Singapore can also overcome its limitations of land and manpower, while creating new areas of growth.
It is a tripartite effort involving tertiary and research institutions, the maritime industry and technology companies. The government is extending its support through active encouragement and funding, principally through the Maritime Innovation and Technology Fund or MINT Fund.
Established in 2003 with S$100 million, the MINT Fund now stands at S$200 million after the MPA topped it up twice – in 2013 and 2016. It is available to companies that are
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SINGAPORE MARITIME SERVICES GUIDE 2017/2018


































































































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