World Bunkering > News > Winter 2010 > IBIA gets to work on blending guidance

IBIA’s Blending Committee, which operates under the supervision of IBIA’s Board of Directors, held its first face to face meeting in Stamford, Connecticut, on the eve of IBIA’s 2010 Convention.

The principal item on the agenda was a draft guidance note on in-line blending. The guidance note, which is seen as a precursor for guidance notes on other bunker related topics, is aimed principally at those new to bunkering or without a technical background. Subject to the number of graphics and other details, the guidance notes will be between six and ten pages long, a length designed to encourage quick end to end reading in one short session. Publication is planned for the year end.

In discussing the in-line blending guide it became apparent to the committee that there were other areas of bunkering that could benefit from similar treatment. Suggestions so far include a guidance note on the sources and composition of marine fuels to be followed by another note on the role of international organisations in the bunkering industry; other suggestions are welcomed.

Other topics discussed were the possibility of IBIA lobbying IMO, the International Maritime Organization, to allow the results of real-time in-line sampling to be used on MARPOL compliant bunker delivery notes and generally to revise guidelines to take account of best available practices.

This issue is particularly topical given the recent proposal made at IMO by Norway and Intertanko that the quality of bunker fuel should be a matter of regulation rather than simply a matter of negotiation between seller and buyer. What better time and place could there be to determine and control product quality than as it is pumped from barge to ship? It is an interesting argument and will no doubt be a topic of lively debate. Members’ views are important and the committee would like to hear from as many people as possible.

After the committee meeting, a tentative proposal was made by one of the Convention delegates that IBIA should develop a definitive best practice guide for bunker delivery, paying particular attention to pollution protection. Such a guide would necessarily be more extensive than a six-page guidance note but could usefully fill a perceived gap in information resources available to suppliers and consumers alike.

If widely adopted and implemented, it would also have the advantage of being an established system, functionally derived from proven best practice rather than the unattractive alternative of a scheme imposed by an external regulatory body, potentially influenced by those with distinct agendas and little interest in the well being of the maritime industry. Again, the views of members as to whether they feel this would be of value would be welcome.

As can be seen, there is plenty to do and the committee would be very pleased to hear from any member who wishes to contribute in any way to its activities. The committee’s terms of reference are very widely drawn and all suggestions and offers will be given serious consideration. Enquiries may be directed either to the committee chairman, Trevor Harrison, trevor@trevorharrison.com, or to the IBIA Secretariat, secretariat@ibia.net.