SCHEDULE 7

FUEL OIL QUALITY

1.    Sampling and bunker delivery notes

1.1    For each ship subject to a survey and issue of an appropriate Certificate, as detailed in Regulations 5 to 11 of the Merchant Shipping (Prevention of Air Pollution from Ships) Regulations 2008 the Master shall ensure that;

(i)    details of fuel oil for combustion purposes delivered to, and used on board are recorded by means of a bunker delivery note which must contain the information specified in Schedule 3 to the Merchant Shipping (Prevention of Air Pollution from Ships) Regulations 2008.

(ii)    the bunker delivery note is kept on board the ship in such a place as to be readily available for inspection at all reasonable times and be retained for a period of three years after the fuel oil has been delivered on board.

1.2    The sample that must be provided to the ship and signed by the local supplier’s representative must also be signed by the officer in charge of the bunkering operation. This sample must be retained under the ship's control until the fuel oil is substantially consumed, but in any case for a period of not less than 12 months from the time of delivery.

1.3    Whilst the bunker delivery note must be retained on board, the control sample need only be retained under the ship’s control which allows the sample to be stored ashore where it is not practical or desirable to store the sample on the ship.

2.    Responsibilities of suppliers

2.1    The fuel oil supplier’s representative must sign a declaration that certifies that the fuel oil supplied to the local supplier of fuel oil is in conformity with regulations 14(1) or 14(4) (a) (as applicable) and regulation 18(1) of Annex VI of MARPOL.

2.2    The local supplier of fuel oil receives fuel oil from the fuel oil supplier with a view to its delivery to and use on board a ship. They must provide a bunker delivery note, that includes the declaration certified by the fuel oil supplier’s representative, as described in Paragraph 2.1, and a sample required by Regulation 25 of the Merchant Shipping (Prevention of Air Pollution from Ships) Regulations 2008 to the ship through their representative, and retain a copy of the note for at least three years for inspection and verification by the MCA. The local supplier of fuel oil should not contaminate or blend the fuel so that it no longer conforms with the declaration by the fuel oil supplier. The bunker delivery note must contain the information and declaration contained in Schedule 3 to the above Regulations. The density of fuel oil should be tested in accordance with ISO 3675:1998² and the sulphur content of fuel oil should be tested in accordance with ISO 8754:2003³.

²ISO Publication – ISBN: 0-580-38570-1
³ISO Publication – ISBN: 0-580-42400-6

2.3    The local supplier’s representative is the person responsible for delivering the bunkers to the ship by bunker supply vessel or direct from shore and for pumping the bunkers on board the ship, taking the sample in accordance with Appendix 1 to this Merchant Shipping Notice and completing the bunker delivery note. This person, appointed by the local supplier of fuel, is required to seal and sign the sample on completion of the bunkering and give it to the ship along with the bunker delivery note. Please note a fuel oil supplier’s representative can also be the local supplier’s representative where the fuel oil supplier supplies fuel directly to the ship. In this case the fuel oil supplier has to register as a local supplier of fuel oil.

2.4    All local suppliers of fuel oil must register with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency as per the initial declaration in Appendix 2, at the address contained in this Merchant Shipping Notice, and provide an annual declaration as detailed in Appendix 3 to this Merchant Shipping Notice. If a local supplier of fuel oil does not provide the annual declaration as detailed in Appendix 3 it will be removed from the United Kingdom Government’s list of local fuel supplies and will no longer be able to supply fuel legally.

3.    Inspection

3.1    The Maritime and Coastguard Agency may inspect the bunker delivery notes on board any ship to which the Merchant Shipping (Prevention of Air Pollution from Ships) Regulations 2008 apply while the ship is in a port or offshore terminal within United Kingdom waters and may make a copy of each delivery note.

3.2    The Maritime and Coastguard Agency may also require the master or person in charge of the ship to certify that each copy is a true copy of the bunker delivery note and verify the contents of each note through consultations with the port where the note was issued.

3.3    The control sample required by Regulation 25 of the Merchant Shipping (Prevention of Air Pollution from Ships) Regulations 2008 is additional to those normally supplied or drawn for commercial purposes. It is to be used solely to demonstrate compliance with Annex VI to the responsible authority when demanded.