Typically, barges carrying fuel will be moved alongside a vessel with the assistance of tugboats. Once there, they follow a strict protocol to ensure refuelling is done safely.
The two most common types of bunkering procedure at sea is Ship to ship-to-ship bunkering (STS) in which one ship acts as a terminal whilst the other moors. The second type is Stern Line Bunkering, which is the easiest method of transferring oil but can be risky during bad weather.
Bunkering Operation Procedure
The bunkering procedure on a ship can be divided into three important stages:
- Preparation– Preparing for the bunkering operation which will involve the readiness of bunkering equipment, storage tanks and bunkering safety
- Perform– Performing the bunkering operation in real-time as per the pre-decided procedure and receiving the marine fuel according to the bunker plan
- Wrap-up– Wrapping up the bunkering operation with utmost safety and ensuring the correct amount and quality of bunker fuel has been received onboard from the bunkering facilities (bunker ship or shore truck etc.)