Short answer: a bunker delivery note (BDN) is the document the bunker supplier issues for every delivery, recording the vessel, the product, the quantity in metric tons, the density and sulphur content, and the supplier’s declaration that the fuel meets MARPOL Annex VI. The ship must keep it on board for three years. In Singapore, BDNs are issued electronically as e-BDNs.
Why the BDN matters
The BDN is both a regulatory and a commercial document. For the regulator, it shows that the ship received compliant fuel. For the buyer, it is the supplier’s formal statement of what was delivered, which is the starting point for any later quantity or quality claim. Port State control officers routinely inspect BDNs, and they are compared with the vessel’s oil record and sample records.
What a BDN contains
MARPOL Annex VI sets the minimum content. A BDN typically includes:
- Name and IMO number of the receiving ship
- Port and date the bunkering started
- Name, address and telephone number of the marine fuel supplier
- Product name or grade
- Quantity in metric tons
- Density at 15°C
- Sulphur content in % m/m
- A declaration signed by the supplier’s representative that the fuel conforms to the relevant MARPOL regulations and sulphur limit
IMO amendments have added flash point information to the documentation suppliers provide. Singapore e-BDNs also carry details such as sample seal numbers and metering data drawn from the delivery.
The e-BDN in Singapore
The MPA launched its digital bunkering initiative on 1 November 2023, making Singapore the first port to implement electronic bunker delivery notes. Bunker suppliers were required to issue e-BDNs from 1 April 2025. The e-BDN is issued through MPA-approved digital bunkering solutions, which relay bunkering data to the MPA and give buyers a digital record that is harder to alter. The IMO had confirmed in 2023 that BDNs may be provided in hard copy or electronic form, provided they meet MARPOL requirements.
Before you sign
The chief engineer (or authorised officer) signs to acknowledge receipt. Before signing, check that:
- The vessel name, IMO number and product match the nomination.
- The quantity matches the mass flow meter printout.
- The sample seal numbers on the document match the samples received.
- The sulphur declaration matches the grade ordered.
If anything is wrong or disputed, do not simply sign. Issue a letter of protest and note the dispute in the documents. Signing without comment weakens a later claim. A bunker surveyor can help with this; see what happens during a bunker survey.
Retention and records
- BDNs must be kept on board for three years after delivery.
- The MARPOL sample must be kept under the ship’s control until the fuel is substantially consumed, and for at least 12 months.
- Keep BDNs with the oil record book entries and any changeover records.
The BDN is not a quality certificate
The supplier’s declaration covers sulphur and general MARPOL compliance. It is not a full analysis against ISO 8217. Independent testing of a delivery sample is the way to confirm the fuel meets the purchased specification. See bunker sampling and fuel quality testing.
Frequently asked questions
How long must a bunker delivery note be kept?
MARPOL Annex VI requires the bunker delivery note to be kept on board and readily available for inspection for three years after the fuel was delivered.
Are electronic bunker delivery notes valid?
Yes. The IMO accepts BDNs in hard copy or electronic form if they meet MARPOL requirements, and Singapore requires e-BDNs from bunker suppliers.