Posted on March 9, 2021
License does not apply to ‘future fuels’
No mass flow meters yet, decision in 2022
New York — The Port of Rotterdam has implemented its long-discussed bunker barge operator license system and announced the holders of the license.
The license applies to the transport and delivery of residual fuels and distillates and biodiesel to sea-going vessels. The supply of other fuels, such as LNG, requires a different bunker license, since different techniques are used and have different safety requirements, the port authority said on its website.
The licenses are valid from Feb. 1, 2021 until Feb. 1, 2023.
The implementation of the license comes amid increasing numbers of complaints and disputes about delivered bunkers; the license system is intended to reduce these incidences and to promote the transparency and traceability of the bunker process at the port, the port authority said.
Singapore and Gibraltar have also introduced bunker licenses and they have seen the number of disputes go down, the port authority said.
No MFMs
Singapore has also introduced mass flow meters (MFMs) to prevent quantity disputes, but these have not been introduced at Rotterdam. “For the time being, there is no compelling or objective reason to make the MFM mandatory,” the Rotterdam Port Authority said.
“The obligation could have a considerable impact on the operational management of the bunker transporters and must therefore be properly substantiated,” the authority said, adding that a decision would be taken on this in 2022 after an evaluation.
The Rotterdam license has been welcomed by observers. A shipping source in Singapore noted that Rotterdam’s move to issue bunker licenses was a positive one as it would likely create more transparency in the system.
“Clearly we are not only seeing International Maritime Organization scrutiny of our businesses but we are also seeing increasing pressures, generated by MFMs etc,” another source said, adding that there was a need to replicate some of these standards launched in Singapore in other supply locations.
Rotterdam’s transition to the licensing scheme was positive and other ports will likely follow, he added.
An industry consultant noted that having bunker licenses helps regulate supply, ensure bunker fuel quality and gives authorities more control over errant players, so it would benefit the overall bunker industry, he said.
Licensed bunker barge operators at Rotterdam as listed on the port authority’s website are as follows:
Scheepvaartbedrijf A & K Kooren
A. Nobel en Zn
Amulet Maritime Services
Atlantic Schepen Exploitatie Maatschappij
Belgian Trading and Bunkering
Benelux Barging
Dari Shipping Luxembourg
Decoil Ship Management
Dutch Barging Services
Elveba Bunkering
Golden Arrow Olieproducten Amsterdam
GoodFuels
Jer Shipping
Malmy Shipping & Services
Minerva NWE
Naval Inland Navigation
Oliehandel Klaas de Boer B.V.
Posttrans
RTR Barging
SBH Heijmen Rotterdam
Unibarge
United Bunkers
Varo Energy Inland Bunkerservice
Verenigde Internationale Olie Transporteurs (Vinotra)
Verenigde Tankrederij
Victrol Chartering
