In this article we will learn about the bunkering procedure on a ship and what are the important points that are to be taken into consideration while bunkering.
Bunkering Procedure
Before Bunkering
1. The chief engineer should calculate and check
which bunker/fuel oil tanks are to be filled after he receives confirmation
from the shore office about the amount of fuel to be received.
2. It might be required to empty some tanks and
transfer the oil from one tank to other. This is required so as to prevent
mixing of two oils and prevent incompatibility between the previous oil and the
new oil.
3. A meeting should be held between the members
that will take part in the bunkering process and they should be explained about
the following:-
a. Which
tanks are to be filled.
b. Sequence
order of tanks to be filled.
c. How
much bunker is to be taken.
d. Emergency
procedure in case oil spill occurs.
e. Responsibilities
of each officer are explained.
4. Sounding is taken before bunkering and record
is made.
5. A checklist is to be filled so that nothing is
missed on.
6. All deck scuppers and save all trays are
plugged.
7. Overflow tank is checked to be empty.
8. Adequate lighting at bunker and sounding
position is to be provided.
9. No smoking notice should be positioned.
10. On board communication between the people
involved in bunkering is made.
11. Red
flag/light is presented on masthead.
12. Opposite side bunker manifold valves are closed
and blanked properly.
13. Vessel
draught and trim is recorded before bunkering.
14. All equipments in SOPEP(shipboard oil pollution
emergency plan) locker are checked to be in place.
15. When barge
is secured to the ship side, the persons involved on barge are also explained
about the bunker plan.
16. Barge paperwork is checked for the oil’s grade
and the density if they are as per the specification.
17. The pumping rate of bunker is agreed with the
barge.
18. The hose is then connected to the manifold.
19. All the valves required are open and checked.
20. Proper
communication between the barge and the ship is to be established.
21. Sign and signals are to be followed as
discussed in case of communication during emergency.
22. After this, the manifold valve is open for
bunkering.
During Bunkering
1. During
start of the bunker the pumping rate is kept low, this is done so as to check
that the oil is coming to the tank to which the valve is opened.
2. After
confirming the oil is coming to the proper tank the pumping rate is increased
as agreed before.
3. Generally
only one tank filling is preferred because gauging of more than one tank at a
time increases the chances of overflow.
4. The
max allowable to which tank is filled is 90 % and when the tank level reaches
about to maximum level the barge is told to pump at low pumping rate so
as to top up the tank, and then the valve of other tank is opened.
5. During
bunkering, sounding is taken regularly and the frequency of sounding is more
when the tank is near to full. Many vessels have tank gauges which show tank
level in control room but this is only to be relied if the system is working
properly.
6. The
temperature of bunker is also to be checked; generally the barge or supplier
will provide the bunker temperature. Temperature above this may lead to
shortfall in bunker.
7. A
continuous sample is taken during bunkering with the help of sampling cock at
the manifold.
General view of Manifold |