Marine services · Quantity

Bunker Survey Arrangements in Singapore

Independent, MPA-licensed bunker surveyors arranged for your delivery to verify quantity, supervise sampling and document any discrepancy before the paperwork is signed.

What is a bunker survey?

A bunker survey in Singapore is an independent check of a bunker delivery, carried out by an MPA-licensed bunker surveyor appointed by the buyer. The surveyor verifies the quantity delivered, observes the mass flow metering and sampling, checks the documents and reports any discrepancy before the paperwork is closed.

Mass flow metering under SS 648 has made Singapore deliveries far more transparent than the old tank-gauging method. It has not removed the need for independent oversight. Meter systems must be correctly sealed, verified and operated; samples must be drawn correctly; and the bunker delivery note must reflect what actually happened. A surveyor working for the buyer is there to confirm that, and to record the facts if it did not.

SingaporeBunker.com arranges independent bunker surveyors on the buyer’s behalf. We brief the surveyor on the stem, inform the supplier and the vessel, and make sure the survey report reaches you. We do not employ surveyors and we do not carry out surveys ourselves.

Scope

What the bunker surveyor does

Before delivery

Review the nomination: grade, specification, quantity and delivery window.
Board the bunker tanker or receiving vessel as agreed, and check the bunker tanker’s documents.
Check the mass flow meter system: seals intact, verification status, totaliser readings recorded before delivery starts.
Take or witness soundings of the receiving vessel’s bunker tanks, so the ship’s own figures can be compared later.
Confirm the sampling arrangement at the vessel’s receiving manifold.

During delivery

Delivery observation. Monitor the transfer, flow rate and any stoppages, and watch for signs of air entrainment.
Sampling supervision. Witness the continuous drip sampling throughout the delivery so the samples are representative.
Record events and times, including any interruptions or line clearing with air.

After delivery

Record final meter readings and obtain the meter printout.
Witness the sealing, labelling and signing of samples, including the MARPOL sample.
Take or witness final soundings on the receiving vessel and calculate the ship’s figure.
Check that the e-BDN matches the meter figure and the agreed specification details.
If there is a discrepancy, help the vessel prepare a letter of protest before the documents are signed off.

Why it matters

Bunker quantity verification that holds up

Why buyers appoint a bunker surveyor

Quantity claims are hard to win after the event. Once the chief engineer has signed the bunker delivery note without protest, the buyer’s position is much weaker. A surveyor gives the buyer an independent witness on board when it matters, with the technical knowledge to spot problems early: a broken seal, an unexplained meter reading, a sampling irregularity, or a large gap between the meter figure and the ship’s soundings.

Discrepancy reporting

If the delivered quantity is disputed, the surveyor’s report documents the figures from each source, the conditions during delivery and the steps taken. That report, with the meter printout and the letter of protest, is the foundation for any commercial discussion with the supplier. Read more in common bunker quantity disputes.

Coordinating with the supplier

Suppliers are informed in advance that an independent surveyor will attend. This avoids delays at the bunker tanker and ensures the surveyor can witness the meter and sampling checks. We handle that communication as part of the nomination.

Want the full step-by-step? Read what happens during a bunker survey.

Bunker survey FAQs

Are bunker surveyors licensed in Singapore?

Yes. The MPA requires bunker surveyors and bunker surveying companies operating in the Port of Singapore to be licensed.

Is a bunker survey still needed with mass flow meters?

It is not mandatory for every delivery, but many buyers still appoint a surveyor, especially for large stems, new suppliers or charter party requirements. The surveyor verifies meter readings, seals and sampling, and documents any discrepancy.

What is a bunker quantity survey?

A bunker quantity survey is an independent verification of the quantity delivered, comparing the meter figure with the receiving vessel’s tank soundings and checking the delivery documents for consistency.

Who pays for the bunker surveyor?

The party that appoints the surveyor, normally the buyer, pays for the survey unless the contract says otherwise. The cost is confirmed before the surveyor is appointed.

Need a surveyor for your Singapore delivery?

Add an independent bunker survey to your quotation request, or ask us to arrange one for a stem you have already confirmed.