Vessels consume bunkers, heavy and light fuels, as well as lubricating and hydralic oils. Bunkers are delivered with hoses and drums. Hoses are used to take bunkers from barges and/or shore connections, while drums are normally used to deliver hydralic and lubricating oils. Crewmen know bunkering operations very well. They hook up the bunker barge, connect the hoses to manifolds, monitor and follow up the bunker operation. All possible precautions are taken. Still, mistakes result in bunkering spills of different sizes. The pumping speed is such that often from 3 to 5 tons of fuel can fly away in an air vent before careless watch stops pumping. The result is a big problem for the watch, the environment, the shipowner, the protection and indemnity club, all parties concerned. In the present post, we will talk about bunkering operations, best management practices, cases of bunkering spills and response.
Start with a following case. A vessel was bunkering heavy fuel. Bunkers were delivered by barge. Before bunkering operations started, maximum pumping rate was agreed to 150 MT/hr. During bunkering operation all tanks were measured manually. After final sounding of a starboard tank, its supply was opened again, instead of another scheduled portside tank. At that time, starboard bunker tank was almost full. On reopening the supply, heavy fuel overflowed the starboard tank via an air vent contaminating the deck and side of the vessel, the barge and the water area. Immediate response was required. Master immediately informed his agent, the coordination centre and P&I correspondent, who immediately arrived at the scene for observing and coordination. On arriving the scene, he found the vessel’s starboard deck, ship’s side, the air vent contaminated by heavy fuel.
Both vessels were prohibited to sail by the port Authorities. The port Authority requested cleaning of the water area, the vessel and the barge. A clean up team with pollution fighting material was engaged by the agents. Means of cleaning included an oil boom, a high pressure pollution fighting equipment, an assistance craft and vacuum trucks. Deck cleaning is normally considered to be vessel’s Owners responsibility. However, on vessel’s owners request, a number of cleaners were assigned to clean the deck to speed up cleaning operation. An oil boom was set around the vessel and the barge to prevent drifting of oil. To everyone’s satisfaction, nonmoving water was observed. The vacuum trucks were used to suck the HFO on the water surface. The pollution fighting craft was used to clean escaping HFO.
The Master got an invitation to Harbourmaster’s office for explanations. The Harbourmaster imposed a fine which was accepted by the Master.
The next day, a rather thick layer of HFO between the barge and the vessel slowed the rate of progress. Therefore a new craft equipped with vacuum tanks had to be commissioned. Cleaning operations were delayed due to the new craft not being available. On removing a major part of fuel from the surface, cleaning of the barge’s side started. Meanwhile, oil escaped several times out of the boom. The cleaning craft was used to disperse escaping HFO. Finally, the port authority allowed to shift the barge out of the boom for further cleaning and the barge was released.
The deck of the vessel was cleaned to satisfaction of the Master, and the disposal container was removed by the ship’s crane. The pollution fighting craft was engaged at cleaning the vessel’s side, however, operation was hampered due to excessively contaminated oil boom and continuously escaping oil. It was decided to call for another pollution fighting craft . A meeting was summoned to coordinate the efforts and to discuss contaminated boom sticking to the vessel’s side. It was decided to remove the boom and install a new one to continue cleaning the side of the vessel.
Soon it became known that also 2 barges nearby had been contaminated. It was decided to finish cleaning the vessel and then proceed to barges. When the major part of the oil was collected, the oil boom, accompanied by the vacuum truck, was used as a bag to collect the free flowing remnants. Finally the port authorities approved the vessel to sail. The cleaning gangs completed cleaning contaminated barges.
The shipowner got claims from contaminated barges and a quay operator, which had to cancel some quay works due to contamination.
We will continue to discuss cases of contamination and response. The readers are welcomed to report curious cases.
