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Singapore's Minister for Transport, Mr Lui Tuck Yew, presided over the opening ceremony of the 17th Singapore International Bunkering Conference and Exhibition (SIBCON), in front of a record turnout of over 1,500 delegates at Resorts World Sentosa.

During the opening ceremony, Minister Lui announced the introduction of an information sheet on licensed bunker suppliers and an industry guide for the use of a mass flow metering system.

Minister Lui said that the MPA will publish an information sheet on licensed bunker suppliers in the Port of Singapore in its efforts to enable shipowners to make more informed decisions when appointing bunker suppliers.

The MPA said the information sheet will aim to enhance transparency across the bunkering supply chain by providing details on sales performance, technical performance and 'other value-added propositions'. The sheet will be available on MPA's corporate website at www.mpa.gov.sg/sites/pdf/infomation_sheet-licensed_bunkering_suppliers.pdf and the data will be updated every six months.

Minister Lui also announced that the MPA has developed an industry guide for the use of a mass flow metering system. The industry guide will provide an overview of the requirements for applying a mass flow metering system during bunker deliveries in Singapore.

With the introduction of the industry guide, MPA said it hopes to encourage more bunker players to adopt mass flow meters in order to promote the development of a Singapore Standard for Mass Flow Metering System in the future. The industry guide will be available on the MPA's corporate website at www.mpa.gov.sg/sites/pdf/mass-flow-metering-guide.pdf.

Other than the initiatives announced by Minister Lui, the MPA will also commence a study on 'frothed', or 'capuccino', bunkers - the malpractice of introducing air into fuel oil, which results in the development of froth and foam on the surface - and establish a hotline to help manage bunker disputes.

"These initiatives are part of MPA's efforts to enhance the quality of bunkering in Singapore and will also help ensure Singapore retains its competitiveness as the world's leading bunkering port," the MPA said.

The MPA and the Singapore Maritime Institute have also appointed the National Metrology Centre to conduct an in-depth study on frothed bunkers to tackle recent allegations of frothed bunkers being delivered in Singapore. The study aims to verify the presence of frothed bunkers and the impact of such frothing, if present, during the custody transfer of bunker fuel. Addressing the issue from both theoretical and practical perspectives, the study is expected to be completed in 2013.

The MPA will be establishing a bunkering assistance hotline, 1800-BUNKERS (1800-2865377), for the industry to contact MPA for on-site assistance in the event of bunker quantity disputes. This 24/7 hotline will aim to enhance the bunkering experience offered at the Port of Singapore and facilitate dispute management. The bunkering assistance hotline will be effective from 1 November 2012, at 08:30hrs.

Recognized as the world's largest gathering of shipping and bunkering professionals, the biennial SIBCON, organised by the MPA, is a flagship platform that addresses both current issues and future trends in the global bunkering industry. Keynote presentations and panel discussions will this year cover a range of topics such as fuel efficiency and savings, LNG bunkering and its challenges, the use of mass flow meters in Singapore, as well as compliance with international fuel regulations.

Image: Singapore's Minister for Transport, Mr Lui Tuck Yew, visits the booth of Golden Island Diesel Oil Trading - Singapore's 20th largest supplier in 2011.