Bunker Quantity Survey

DNV Petroleum Services

Revision 0 : Feb 06

Bunkers are typically the largest contributor to the operational costs of a ship,
with the physical transfer of fuel often taking place thousands of miles away
from the contracting offices. As neither the buyer nor the seller is present to
witness the bunker quantity transfer and sampling procedures on board, any
post-delivery investigation on quantity shortages is usually futile and inconclusive. Protests, demurrages, physical shortages, legal fees, management time, loss
of goodwill, inconvenience and stress add to overall costs.

DNV Petroleum Services (DNVPS)

Bunker Quantity Surveys (BQS)
Responding to these concerns, DNV Petroleum
Services, the world leader in bunker fuel testing,
offers an impartial and independent Bunker Quantity
Survey through its own in-house surveyors in major
bunkering ports worldwide.
DNVPS BQS surveyors provide comprehensive and
credible documentation of delivered quantity, and
representative sampling and compliant with MARPOL
Annex VI requirements. As a complementary service
to the DNV Fuel Quality Testing Programme, our
surveyors also facilitate prompt dispatch of fuel oil
samples to the nearest DNVPS laboratory.
Given that bunkers account for 30-50% of the vessels
operating costs, it is in the fuel buyers interest to
engage a DNVPS surveyor for quantity verification. In
a bunker dispute, the fuel buyer will be well placed to
substantiate his claims.
DNVPS is the first company to implement a worldwide Code of Practice with regular on-the-job quality
assurance audits to ensure a high level of integrity and
service performance. We actively promote best practices in the trade.

Scope of Service

Procedures on the Vessel

DNVPS surveyors remain onboard for the entire

duration of the bunkering ensuring continuous supervision and support.

To avoid delays to the bunker delivery, the DNVPS

BQS surveyor will board the vessel at least one hour
before the bunker tankers arrival to complete the
initial vessel tank gauging measurements.

DNVPS requests all clients to have their Chief Engineer

or his representative present during the extensive inspection and gauging of all the bunker tanks on the
vessel and the bunker tanker.
Accurate assessment of the opening soundings on
both the vessel and the bunker tanker is critical to the
determination of the actual fuel quantity transferred.
In order to perform a thorough job, sufficient time
should be allocated. The measurements may take up
to an hour on both the vessel and bunker tanker.
Our surveyors are required to use their own measuring
tape and digital thermometers instead of third party
instruments which may introduce uncertainties.
Water finding paste is used routinely to detect free
water. All vessel and bunker tanker measurements are
recorded on the spot in the DNVPS Gauging Ticket,
a copy of which will be given to each of the parties
present. In the event of uncertainty or during routine
quality control checks, these independent records
can be recalled for verification. The DNVPS gauging
ticket and recording procedures provide an audit trail
which detects alteration of figures and other malpractices.
Where permissible, digital photographs are taken as
evidence of the survey operation. The photographs
include those of the vessel, bunker tanker, sampling
equipment and location.

Procedures on the Bunker Tanker

All the bunker tankers tanks, including non-nominated bunker tanks will be measured in the presence of
the ship and supplier representatives and the DNVPS
surveyor will instantly record the readings on the
gauging tickets. If a short delivery arises, these records
together with non-cargo tanks declaration can be used
in the subsequent investigation.
When all initial bunker tanker measurements are
done, the transfer may start. On completion of the
bunker transfer, the DNVPS surveyor is required to
close the measurement on the bunker tanker first
to determine the quantities supplied. If there is a
quantity difference between the vessel and the bunker
tanker exceeding DNVPS BQS Code of Practice requirement, the surveyor will carry out a dispute investigation after consulting the Chief Engineer and the
supplier representative.

Sampling
According to Incoterms 2000 published by the International Chamber of Commerce, the seller fulfils his
obligation to delivery when the goods have passed
over the vessels rails.
In addition, MARPOL 73/78 ANNEX VI requires a
representative sample to be taken at the receiving
vessels bunker manifold.
As a bunker delivery is a commercial transaction which
also requires the determination of fuel properties,
DNVPS advocates custody transfer sampling at the receiving vessels manifold. Vessels are recommended to
install a line sampler to collect representative samples.
Line samplers can be purchased from DNVPS.
During the bunker transfer, the DNVPS Code of
Practice requires the surveyor to take a representative
sample at the point of custody transfer.

Reporting
Based on the suppliers bunker receipt density, calculations are carried out using ASTM Tables 54B and
56 to determine the preliminary weight of the fuel
transferred.
However, DNVPS BQS requires actual density, viscosity and water for conclusion. In order to do this, the
sample is promptly dispatched to the nearest DNVPS
laboratory for testing.
The results for density, viscosity and water of the fuel
sample are factored into the final recalculation of
the actual weight of the fuel delivered. The DNVPS
Bunker Survey Report is then transmitted by email or
fax to the client.

BQS Experience Database

The DNVPS BQS experience database has multiple
records of bunker tanker performance in a specific
port and if there are no dubious practices, the conclusion is typically based on the bunker tanker out-run.
Such dubious practices may include non-disclosure
or incomplete stock movement records, questionable
calibration tables, gravitation of bunkers among tanks,
unpacked pipe-line from shore tanks and adjusted
delivery figures.
However, DNVPS also has an extensive database on
vessels that have been surveyed in multiple ports
around the world and exhibit good bunker experience factor. The importance of extensive vessel measurements before and after delivery, in conjunction
with the vessels bunker experience factor, justifies
DNVPS conclusion based on the vessels out-turn in
some short delivery situations.

Volume at
15C (M3)

Density at
15C (kg/m3)

Mass* (M/tons)

Weight Factor
(kg/m3)

Weight
(M/tons)

Bunker Delivery Note (BDN)

1822.804

988.7

1802.206

987.6

1800.201

DNVPS Measurement
(Bunker Tanker)

1822.805

957.3

1744.971

956.2

1742.966

0.001

-31.4

-57.235

-31.4

-57.235

DNVPS Measurement (Vessel)

1832.753

957.3

1754.494

956.2

1752.478

BDN value

Tested value

Differential

Calculation

**Commercial
losses

988.7

957.3

57.235 M/tons

57.235 x USD 300

USD 17,170

180

380

Trace

3.4%

Difference

Density
Viscosity***
Water

USD 5

USD 5 x 1742.966

3.4%

0.034 x 1742.966 x USD 300

Total $ Loss

USD 8,715
USD 17,778
USD 43,663

*
Mass in our Report refers to Weight in Vacuo but commercial fuel transactions are typically based on Weight in Air given here as Weight.
** Bunker cost @ USD 300 per metric ton.
*** Price differential between 180 and 380 cSt(mm2/s) fuel @ USD 5.

DNVPS Benefits at a glance

BQS Clients can avoid costly disputes from short
deliveries.
DNVPS provides an independent and credible
verification of bunker quantity delivered, using
qualified and experienced bunker surveyors
applying DNVPS Code of Practice.
DNVPS provides comprehensive and accurate documentation as evidencein potential legal claims.
As opposed to other survey companies, DNVPS
surveyors stay onboard during the entire duration
of the bunkering operation. This ensures continuous supervision of the entire bunkering operation.
DNVPS surveyors will make certainthat representative sampling is carried out and assist the ship crew
to comply with MARPOL Annex VIrequirements.
While most other survey companies base their
weight calculations on the suppliers bunker receipt
density, DNVPS calculatesthe weight of the fuel oil
delivered based on actual density of representative samples tested in DNVPS laboratories.Further,
DNVPS tests representative samples to provide
information on fuel viscosity (grade) and water
content. This assists clients in avoiding commercial
losses related to inaccurate bunker delivery receipt
values as well as water content.
DNVPS uses in-house surveyors,permanently
employed by DNVPS, for surveys in major bunker
ports world wide.
DNVPS is the only bunker survey company to
conduct regular on-the-job quality audit by senior
Quality Auditors to maintain high service standards.
DNVPS provides onboard hydrogen sulphide (H2S)
monitoring.
DNVPS provides objective conclusion when there is
a short delivery, based on comprehensive documentation and an extensiveBQS experience database.
BQS reports are presented in user-friendly PDF
format with colour codes for quick identification of
problem, executive summary, and relevant pictures
of the bunker survey. The report also includes documentation of sampling procedures and MARPOL
Annex VI compliance.
DNVPS bunkers survey are available in major
bunker ports worldwide.

DNVPS Worldwide HQ
Regional Office & Laboratory

DNVPS Regional Office

& Laboratory

DNVPS Regional Office

& Laboratory

DNVPS Regional Office

London, UK
Palace House
3, Cathedral Street
London SE1 9DE
United Kingdom
Tel: + 44 0207 357 6080
Fax: + 44 0207 716 6736
Email: london@dnvps.com

DNVPS Regional Office

& Laboratory

DNVPS Regional Office

& Laboratory

Singapore
27 Changi South Street 1
Singapore 486071
Tel: + 65 6779 2475
Fax: + 65 6779 5636
Tlx: RS 39659 / 28597 DNVPS
Email: singapore@dnvps.com

Fujairah, UAE
Port of Fujairah
P.O. Box 1227
United Arab Emirates
Tel: + 971 9 2228152
Fax: + 971 9 2228153
Email: fujairah@dnvps.com

Rotterdam, The Netherlands

Haastrechtstraat 7
3079 DC Rotterdam
The Netherlands
Tel: + 31 10 292 2600
Fax: + 31 10 479 7141
Email: rotterdam@dnvps.com

Oslo, Norway
Veritasveien 1
N-1322 Hovik, Norway
Tel: + 47 67 57 9900
Fax: + 47 67 57 9393
Tlx: 76 192 VERIT N
Email: dnvps.oslo@dnv.com

Houston, Texas, USA

318 North 16th Street
La Porte, Texas 77571, USA
Tel: + 1 281 470 1030
Fax: + 1 281 470 1035
Email: houston@dnvps.com

DNV is a global provider of services for managing risk. Established in 1864, DNV is
an independent foundation with the objective of safeguarding life, property and the
environment. DNV comprises 300 offices in 100 countries, with 6,400 employees.

DNVPS/BQSB/V1R0/0206