What is Bunkering in Merchant Navy ?
In this article we will discuss about what is Bunkering in merchant navy and everything about the bunkering operation.
What is Bunkering ?
(1) Bunkering operation means filling of the fuel required for propulsion and power generation in the bunker tanks of a merchant navy vessel.
(2)A bunker barge normally supplies the bunker oil to the ship when she visits the bunker port.
(3) Some bunker ports also have the facility of supplying the bunker directly at the terminal facility.
(4) In simple words, Bunkering operation in shipping is like filling of petrol or diesel in a bike or car.
Preparations before the Bunkering in Merchant Navy :
(1) When the ship receives the voyage orders, the company asks the Chief Engineer regarding the bunker requirements for that particular voyage.
(2) The Chief Engineer then asks the Fourth Engineer to take the soundings of all the bunker tanks.
(3) After knowing the exact status of each bunker tank, the Chief Engineer then asks for the bunker accordingly.
(4) The shipping company then arranges the required bunker oil quantity at the convenient bunker port.
(5) The Chief Engineer makes the Bunker plan and conducts the bunker meeting with all the ship crew.
(6) Bunker plan contains details of all the bunker tanks in which the ship is going to take the bunker oil and the duties of all the personnel involved in the bunkering operation.
(7) This bunker plan and bunker safety checklist is thoroughly discussed in the bunker meeting and then signed by all the ship crew.
(8) The fourth engineer prepares the following things –
- Four sample bottles – one for Lab Testing, one for MARPOL, One for the ship and one for the bunker barge.
- Four seals.
- Four labels for the bottles.
- One sample container.
- One DHL form
- One bunker sampling form
- One cardboard box for sending one sample bottle for lab testing.
- Checking of freeness of all the valves in the bunker line.
- Carrying out the required inter tank transfers.
(7) The fitter prepares the following things –
- Bunker sampling flange.
- Two gaskets for the sampling flange.
- One half cut drum for keeping below the bunker hose.
- Required spanner’s.
(8) All the ship crew who are going to get involved in the bunker operation are properly rested before the bunkering.
Preparations at the start of Bunkering in Merchant Navy :
(1) All the deck scuppers are closed.
(2) SOPEP equipment are kept in readiness.
(3) All bunker tanks on the ship and bunker barge are sounded in the presence of a bunker surveyor.
(4) The Chief Engineer of the ship and the Chief Officer of the bunker barge sign all the bunker documents.
(5) The ship and bunker barge decide the rates of the bunker supply at the starting, rate of supply during the bunkering the maximum supply rate.
(6) The Chief engineer along with the fourth engineer lines up the required bunker tanks for bunkering.
(7) The fourth engineer with the help of the fitter and oiler connects the bunker hose with ships manifold.
(8) The bridge and the chief engineer note down the timing of the bunker hose connection.
(9) For proper communication during the bunker operation the following personnel keep the walkie talkie’s –
- Chief engineer.
- Fourth engineer.
- Fitter.
- Bunker Barge crew.
(10) After signing all the paper work, the bunker supply is started slowly.
(11) After confirming that the bunker oil is getting received in the appropriate tanks and there are no leaks, the bunker barge is asked to increase the rate of pumping.
(12) The bridge and the chief engineer note down the timing of the starting of the bunker operation.
Precautions taken during the Bunker Operation :
(1) The Fitter stays at the manifold and keeps an eye on the bunker supply pressure. He reports them to the chief engineer frequently.
(2) The fitter also keeps filling the bunker sample container from the sample cock.
(3) The fourth engineer keeps sounding the required bunker tanks and reports it to the chief engineer.
(4) The Chief Engineer stays in the cargo control room and keeps checking the bunker tank conditions from the digital gauges.
(5) At the time of topping off of the bunker tanks and changing over of the bunker tanks, the Chief engineer asks the bunker barge to reduce the rate of pumping.
(6) After finishing the receiving of the bunker oil, the sounding caps of all the bunker tanks are closed and then the bunker barge is asked to air blow.
(7) During the air blow, the bunker tank vents and bunker lines are observed for any leaks.
(8) The bridge and the chief engineer note down the timing of the stopping of the bunker operation.
Things to do after finishing the Bunker operation :
(1) Upon completion of the bunker supply the ship’s bunker tanks and bunker barge’s bunker tanks are once again sounded by the Bunker surveyor.
(2) The respective quantities are checked.
(3) The ship and the bunker barge then discuss the discrepancies.
(4) If the difference is less than 5 tons then the bunker barge issues a bunker delivery note or BDN to the ship, and the Chief Engineer signs it.
(5) If the difference is more then the Chief engineer issues a letter of protest to the bunker barge.
(6) Meanwhile the fitter fills all the four sample bottles given to him by the fourth engineer.
(7) The seals and the sample labels are put on the samples bottles.
(8) The bridge and the chief engineer note down the timing of the disconnection of the bunker hose.
(9) Bunker barge takes one sample bottle and one sample bottle is sent ashore for the lab testing.
(10) The bunker barge also gives one sample bottle to the ship.
(11) The shipping company pays to the bunker supply company as per the quantity mentioned in the bunker delivery note.
Conclusion :
Bunkering is a critical operation and requires immense amount of care. Any laxity will lead to oil spill into the sea.
Hello. This is Alkesh Patil. I am a Marine Engineer with 10+ years of experience in Merchant Navy. In this blog, I will try to provide some basic information about merchant navy and life onboard ship.
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