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The International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA) and the Institute of Bunker Buyers and Consumers (IBBC) have announced that IBBC will become a sub-group of IBIA.

The IBBC is a forum and business network for marine fuel purchasers to discuss general experience in relation to day-to-day marine bunker fuel procurement tasks, regulatory changes and commercial developments within the bunker market.

Formed in July 2015, IBBC is an emerging organisation whose members have already held a series of meetings, but it hasn't yet communicated its thinking on issues outside the group. IBIA explained that via the integration of both entities, IBBC members expect IBIA to provide a conduit in which consolidated messages can be passed to suppliers and other entities.

Peter Hall, IBIA chief executive, remarked: "I'm delighted that the IBBC has decided to join IBIA and I believe this will be a boost for both organisations. It will give buyers a stronger and more effective voice within the industry through IBIA."

"Among the aims of the IBBC is to develop general best practice standards which relate to the whole marine bunker fuel procurement industry. This fits perfectly with IBIA's ethos and activities of supporting industry best practices through [the] development of standards in collaboration with relevant stakeholders. For example, IBIA is part of an International Maritime Organization (IMO) correspondence group on fuel quality seeking to identify best practice guidance globally for fuel purchases," IBIA added.

Image: IBIA's office building in Liverpool Street, London.