Ship Bunkering Checklist & ECA 0.10% Fuel Changeover Guide

At least 24–48 hours before the bunker barge or road tanker arrives, the Chief Engineer and nominated Bunkering Engineer prepare the written Bunkering Plan and have it reviewed and signed by the Master:

• Segregation of new stem from existing ROB: Never load new fuel on top of an existing batch of different grade or viscosity unless compatibility has been verified. Aim to load new stems into empty, stripped storage tanks to prevent asphaltene precipitation and sludge choking purifiers and fuel filters.
• Tank filling limits (maximum 85%–90% working capacity): Calculate the exact starting ROB, planned loading volume, maximum filling rate (m³/h) and final target sounding/ullage for each tank, never exceeding 85%–90% of tank capacity to allow for thermal expansion.
• High-level (95%) and overfill (98%) alarm tests: Test the independent high-level and overfill alarms on every bunker tank to be loaded, together with remote tank-level gauges and local sounding pipes, and record the test date and time in the Engine Room Logbook and pre-bunkering checklist.
• SOPEP pollution prevention on deck: Plug and cement/seal all deck scuppers mechanically; check that bunker manifold drip trays are clean, empty and drained or plugged; position SOPEP lockers, sawdust/absorbent pads, wilden pumps and portable fire extinguishers at the bunker station; and hoist Bravo flag by day / red all-round light by night.

Before opening the manifold valve, hold a face-to-face pre-transfer conference with the barge master or terminal PIC and complete the Bunker Delivery Safety Checklist:

• Agree pumping rates and emergency stop signals: Agree the initial slow start rate (to verify line integrity and that fuel is entering the correct first tank), the maximum bulk pumping rate, the reduced topping-off rate, the notice time required before stopping, and the direct VHF / verbal emergency shutdown signal.
• Continuous drip sampling at the receiving ship’s manifold (MEPC.182(59)): Under IMO Resolution MEPC.182(59), the official MARPOL representative sample must be drawn continuously throughout the entire bunker delivery at the receiving ship’s inlet bunker manifold using a clean, tamper-evident continuous-drip sampler. Invite the barge representative in writing to witness the gauge readings and manifold drip sampler before and after transfer.
• Frequent tank soundings & line checks: Sound all receiving tanks and check non-receiving tanks at fixed intervals (and continuously when topping off). Never close a receiving tank valve before opening the next tank valve in the sequence to avoid line over-pressurisation and hose rupture.
• LNG, LPG and Methanol bunkering extras: Where bunkering gas or low-flashpoint fuels under the IGF Code, verify Inert/Purge/Cool-down checklists, Emergency Release Coupling (ERC) and Ship-Shore Emergency Shutdown (ESD-1 / ESD-2) optical/electric link tests, water-curtain protection and hazardous-zone control before transfer starts.

After hoses are blown through (taking care not to blow air into a nearly full tank), drained and blanked, verify the delivered quantity and statutory documentation before signing the Bunker Delivery Note (BDN):

• Mandatory MARPOL Annex VI Appendix V BDN entries: Check that the BDN states: name and IMO number of receiving ship; port and date of commencement of delivery; name, address and telephone number of marine fuel oil supplier; product name(s); quantity in metric tonnes; density at 15°C (kg/m³); sulphur content (% m/m); flashpoint (or statement that flashpoint was measured at ≥ 60°C under SOLAS II-2/4.2.1, added by MEPC.362(79)); and the supplier’s signed declaration that the fuel conforms to MARPOL Annex VI Regulations 14 & 18.
• Sample sealing, labelling & 12-month sample locker log: Witness the mixing and pouring of the cubitainer into the sealed sample bottles (MARPOL ship sample, supplier sample, ship’s commercial lab sample such as VPS/Verifuel/viswa, and barge sample). Verify that every tamper-evident seal number is written on the BDN and entered in the ship’s MARPOL Sample Log in a ventilated sample locker for at least 12 months (BDNs retained for 3 years).
• Oil Record Book Part I (Code H): Record the bunkering entry in Oil Record Book Part I under Code H (Bunkering of fuel or bulk lubricating oil) with exact date, place, type/sulphur content of fuel, tonnes added and total quantity in each tank, matching the BDN and Engine Logbook to the decimal place.
• Wait for lab analysis before burning new fuel: Whenever operational ROB allows, keep the newly bunkered stem segregated until the commercial fuel analysis report (against ISO 8217:2024 — checking cat fines `Al+Si ≤ 60 mg/kg`, viscosity, water, CCAI, total sediment, acid number, flashpoint and chemical contaminants) confirms the fuel is safe to burn.

Under MARPOL Annex VI Regulation 14.4 & 14.6, ships operating without an approved Exhaust Gas Cleaning System (EGCS / scrubber) must complete the changeover to fuel oil with a sulphur content of ≤ 0.10% m/m before crossing into any SOx Emission Control Area:

• Dilution volume & thermal shock protection: Flushing high-sulphur or VLSFO (`0.50%`) out of the settling tank, service tank, piping, heaters and viscosity regulator down to `≤ 0.10%` typically requires burning several times the total system volume, while controlling fuel temperature change at ≤ 2°C per minute so main-engine fuel pumps and injectors do not seize. Use the SeaReady ECA Changeover Calculator to work out the exact start time before the ECA waypoint.
• Four mandatory logbook data points (MARPOL Annex VI Reg. 14.6): Every ECA entry and exit must record in the Engine Logbook, Deck Logbook and Fuel Oil Changeover Record Book: (1) the volume of low-sulphur fuel oil (`≤ 0.10%`) in each tank; (2) the date and time; (3) the ship’s latitude and longitude when changeover was completed prior to ECA entry (or commenced after ECA exit); and (4) the OOW and Engineer signatures.