After a number of successful trials, the Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) has confirmed that electronic bunker delivery notes to digitalise Singapore’s bunker industry are operational.
As a result, the MPA is expecting the new process to save the bunker sector up to 40,000 hours per annum in helping to “boost efficiency and transparency.”
The maritime regulator explains that this new system uses mobile and cloud solutions to complete and issue digital bunkering documents, while also streamlining workflow and enhancing crew safety by eliminating the requirement to transfer bunker documents on a physical basis between vessels.
During 2023, more than 100 trials were completed, involving over 20 companies regularly active in the bunkering industry. The MPA states that it intends to make the process fully iterative: “Feedback from users will continue to be gathered to improve the solutions, with plans to make digital bunkering a mandatory requirement by the end of 2024.” Plus, the MPA will continue to explore and work with the industry on other enhancements, including automating the data flow from mass flow meters.
Japanese container shipping partnership, Ocean Network Express (ONE) has been involved in the process by successfully completing an e-BDN adoption trial. It notes: “As part of the trial, the cargo officer, chief engineer, and bunker surveyor logged in to the platform via their unique link and one-time password to complete the electronic bunkering documentation for pre and post-delivery. Upon completion, the bunkering documents were transmitted to all parties before the vessels departed.”
