Singapore launches new bunker supply chain standard

SINGAPORE, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Singapore launched a new national bunker supply chain standard called the Singapore Standard 600 (SS 600) on Wednesday.

SS 600 will update and consolidate the requirements under two existing Singapore Standards - CP 60 which applies to bunkering by bunker tankers and CP 77 which applies to bunker surveying, Singapore's Transport Minister Raymond Lim announced at the opening of Singapore International Bunkering Conference here on Wednesday morning.

The new standard, to be phased in by the second half of 2009, will benefit the bunkering industry, Lim said.

It rationalizes requirements under CP 60 and CP 77 and streamlines the documentation processes, making it easier for bunker players to ensure compliance, Lim noted.

The standard will require suppliers to sign declarations that each load of bunkers delivered complies fully with regulations under the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships.

"This will give ship operators confidence that they will be fully compliant with international regulations such as bunker sulphur content limits," said the minister.

He added that the new standard will ensure customers fuel quality, with the introduction of improved fuel sampling requirements that will further reduce the possibility of sample tampering and fraud.