TFG Marine has reported that approximately 88% of its bunkering fleet is now fitted with mass flow meters (MFMs), following the latest installation aboard a barge set to begin operations in Jamaica, according to Ship & Bunker.
The marine fuels supplier announced via a LinkedIn post that the barge Kingston Trader has been equipped with a Coriolis mass flow meter system certified to ISO 22192, Ship & Bunker reports. The vessel is currently sailing toward Jamaica, where it will become the first bunkering vessel in the region to carry the technology, the company said.
Regional Rollout Continues
According to Ship & Bunker, the Kingston Trader will operate under TFG Marine’s local partnership with Scott Petroleum. This follows the company’s launch of physical bunker supply operations in Jamaica last year, the report notes.
TFG Marine stated that the installation represents “another step in the continued rollout of this technology across our global bunkering operations,” as cited by Ship & Bunker.
The rollout has not been limited to the Caribbean. Ship & Bunker reports that earlier this month, TFG Marine also equipped two US Gulf Coast bunker barges, Buffalo B414 and Buffalo B304, with mass flow meters as part of the same broader initiative.
Purpose of the Technology
According to Ship & Bunker, the mass flow meters are designed to improve the accuracy of bunker quantity measurements during fuel transfers, aiming to give customers greater confidence in the volumes actually delivered to their vessels.
Does This Matter to You?
For operators and charterers bunkering in Jamaica or the wider Caribbean region, the introduction of certified mass flow metering on the Kingston Trader may offer an added layer of assurance around delivered fuel quantities, an area that has historically been a source of disputes in bunker transactions.
As TFG Marine’s fleet-wide MFM coverage approaches nearly 90%, according to Ship & Bunker, vessel operators sourcing fuel through this supplier’s network across multiple regions, including the US Gulf Coast and now Jamaica, may increasingly encounter standardized measurement technology as part of routine bunkering calls.
The direct commercial or regulatory implications beyond improved measurement accuracy are not detailed in the source material.
Gulf Bunkering does not provide operational or security guidance. This article is for informational purposes only. Operators should consult flag state authorities, P&I clubs, and relevant advisories for decisions relating to transit planning.
Sources: Ship & Bunker
