Singapore: The Singapore International Bunkering Conference and Exhibition (SIBCON) got underway this morning with the republic’s minister for transport promising to up the nation’s bunkering credentials. Lui Tuck Yew announced that two of the country’s bunkering codes – SS600 and SS524 – have been revised effective today. As of January 2017, all surveyor companies need to be licensed. Previously just the actual surveyor had to be, and companies only needed to be accredited.
On mass flow meters, which Singapore introduces at the end of this year, the minister said that the meters were currently in use on 5% of the city-state’s bunkering fleet, the aim was to get that figure up to 50% by the end of next year.
Singapore is also leading the way in the introduction of LNG bunkering. A pilot program is being established to develop operational protocols for LNG bunkering, the minister revealed with grants available for testing at $2m per vessel up to a maximum of six vessels per company.
Singapore is also looking closely at the use of electronic bunker delivery notes, conference delegates were told.
For SIBCON, the world’s largest bunkering event, SeaShip News has printed a special bunkering magazine which readers can access for free by clicking here. [15/10/14]
