BIMCO, IBIA release bunkering guide

BIMCO, IBIA release bunkering guide    BIMCO, in partnership with the International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA), released the BIMCO and IBIA Bunkering Guide on Wednesday at the 16th Singapore International Bunkering Conference (SIBCON).
   'In today's market the bunkering of ships is an intensive, highly regulated and quality-based operation, which demands ship's crew to be highly focused on quality assurance and environmental risk,' said IBIA Chief Executive Ian Adams, in a statement. 'This guide will help those involved in the bunkering process to act in compliance with industry regulations and best practice.'
   BIMCO and IBIA started work on the guide in 2009, when the organizations identified a gap in resources to address best practices and compliance within the industry. The BIMCO and IBIA Bunkering Guide is an accumulation of the organizations' experiences, industry standing, and status of non-governmental organizations at the International Maritime Organization.
   BIMCO and IBIA recognize that detailed guidelines, instructions and procedures are readily available in the ship's Safety Management System (SMS), the Shipboard, Oil Pollution Emergency Plan (SOPEP) and/or the Shipboard Marine Pollution Emergency Plan (SMPEP), but highlighted that this guide will enhance and support the general knowledge of ship personnel.

Timlen

   'We hope that making this guide available to the industry will not only benefit onboard crew, but will also enable shore staff to have access to information which could prove helpful in some shore side operations,' said Thomas Timlen, BIMCO Asia liaison officer.
   The BIMCO and IBIA Bunkering Guide will be available on the BIMCO and IBIA Web sites to download and print. IBIA members will also receive a hard copy of the guide.
   More information on the guide is available at www.bimco.org or www.ibia.net.