Extended Operational and Trade Vocabulary

Marine Bunker and Cargo Surveying glossary (page 2)

The bunker- and cargo-surveying vocabulary: above-deck MARPOL representative sampling points, accredited ISO/IEC 17025 laboratories, total acid number screening per ASTM D664, additive-treatment reports, and the quantity-determination and quality-sampling terms. Grounds each term in the bunker-survey method or the cargo-quantity determination it belongs to.

427 defined terms.

Showing 177 on this page (page 2 of 2).

L

Light Ship Weight: Weight of vessel without cargo, fuel, water, stores, or crew, established at builder's trials and used in draft surveys.
Lightening Operation: Cargo transfer from a deep-draft mother vessel to a smaller daughter vessel to allow river or port access, surveyed at both stages.
Linmark Sampler: Brand of continuous drip sampler used for MARPOL compliant bunker sampling on barges and at terminals.
Liquid Cargo Survey: Quantity and quality survey of liquid bulk cargoes using ullage tape, density measurement, and ASTM/ISO petroleum measurement tables.
Lloyd's Register FOBAS: Fuel oil testing and advisory service operated by Lloyd's Register from facilities in Singapore and the United Kingdom.
Loading Survey: An attendance during cargo loading to monitor sequence, quantity, securing, and trim against approved loading manuals.
LOC Group: London Offshore Consultants, a global marine and engineering consultancy specializing in marine warranty surveying for offshore construction, towage, and renewables.
Loss Control Survey: Inspection focused on identifying loss prevention measures and risk exposures during cargo and bunker operations.
Low sulfur fuel oil: Residual fuel meeting a defined sulfur cap below the global 0.50 percent limit but above the 0.10 percent SECA limit.

M

Maersk Trim Optimization Data: Voyage data inputs occasionally referenced when reconstructing trim conditions during contested draft surveys.
Mahle Sampler: Filtration and sampling equipment brand used in shipboard fuel systems, relevant to fuel system contamination investigations.
Manual Sounding: Tape based liquid measurement when remote gauging is unavailable.
Maritec Pte Ltd: Singapore-based fuel testing and bunker advisory company providing ISO 8217 conformity testing.
MARPOL Annex VI: Air pollution and energy-efficiency annex.
MARPOL Sample: Sealed 400 ml minimum sample drawn during 100 percent of delivery, retained on board 12 months for verification per MEPC.182(59).
Mass Conversion: Calculation converting observed volume at observed temperature to mass at 15 degrees C using density and volume correction factors.
Mass flow meter: MFM, custody transfer meter required for bunkering in Singapore and other ports.
Master's Receipt: Receipt for cargo issued by master based on tally.
MEPC.182(59): IMO Guidelines for sampling of fuel oil for determination of compliance with MARPOL Annex VI.
Methanol Bunkering: Supply of methanol as marine fuel.
MFM Bunker Procedure: Mass flow meter bunker delivery procedure issued by MPA Singapore as standard SS 660 and implemented since 2017.
Micro Carbon Residue: Carbon residue test for petroleum products per ISO 10370, used in ISO 8217 residual fuel specifications.
Midship Draft: Reading at midship draft marks port and starboard.
Mixed Cargo Survey: Survey covering multiple cargo grades or multiple consignees on the same vessel, requiring careful tank-by-tank apportionment.
MPA Bunker Notice 03/2017: Notice from MPA Singapore implementing mandatory mass flow meter bunkering for fuel oil with effect from 1 January 2017.
MPA Singapore: Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, the regulator licensing bunker suppliers and bunker craft operators in the Port of Singapore.
Multi-Grade Bunker Delivery: Single bunker stem comprising more than one fuel grade delivered to segregated tanks and reconciled grade by grade.

N

National Marine Manufacturers Sample: Term occasionally used in U.S. inland markets for retained reference samples retained by suppliers.
Net Standard Volume: Volume of cargo corrected to 15 degrees C excluding free water and sediment, the basis for custody-transfer calculations.
Nickel Content: Nickel concentration in residual fuels determined per ISO 14597, with implications for high-temperature corrosion.
Non-Conformity Report: Surveyor or laboratory document recording deviation of measured properties from ISO 8217 or contractual specification.
North American ECA: Designated under MARPOL Annex VI.
North Sea SECA: Sulfur Emission Control Area covering the North Sea region with 0.10 percent sulfur limit in force since 2007.
NOx Technical Code: Issued under MARPOL Annex VI.

O

OBQ: Onboard Quantity of residual cargo, sediment, and free water in cargo tanks at the start of loading, measured by ullage survey.
Off-specification fuel: Bunker that does not meet a specified parameter on test, triggering claims under the bunker contract.
Onboard Quantity Report: Pre-loading document recording all residual liquid and sediment in cargo tanks, used in cargo reconciliation.
Open Gauging: Tank measurement through an open dipping hatch, allowing vapor release and requiring gas-safety precautions.
Open Sampling: Sample drawing technique through an open ullage hatch using a portable bottle or zone sampler.
Operational Sulfur Compliance Plan: Vessel-specific plan addressing fuel changeover, tank cleaning, and sampling to comply with sulfur cap requirements.
Outturn Report: Final discharge port document recording total cargo quantity outturned, free water, sediment, and any shortage versus bill of lading.
Outturn Survey: Final survey at discharge to determine quantity and condition.
Oxygenate Contamination: Presence of unintended oxygenated compounds such as phenols or styrenes in fuel, identified in the 2018 Houston contamination case.

P

Particulate Sediment: Solid material suspended in residual fuel oil determined by total sediment tests under ISO 10307.
Pelican Marine: Korean cargo and bunker survey services provider operating across Korean ports.
Penalty Clause: A contractual provision imposing a sum disproportionate to legitimate interest, unenforceable under English law.
Permitted Tolerance: Contractual allowance for variation between nominated and delivered bunker quantity, typically a percentage of nomination.
Petroleum Measurement Tables: Tables under API MPMS Chapter 11.1 and ISO 91 used to convert observed volume and density to 15 degrees C standard.
Pour Point: Lowest temperature at which oil flows; key to heating decisions.
Pre-Bunker Survey: Inspection conducted before bunker transfer to verify barge and vessel tank inventories, equipment, and documentation.
Pre-Loading Survey: Inspection of holds, lashings, and cargo condition before loading.
Pressure Test: Hydrostatic or pneumatic test for tightness and strength.
Primary Sample: Composite sample formed from the continuous drip during the entire bunker delivery, the basis for retained MARPOL samples.
Protest Note: Brief written statement issued at the conclusion of a transfer to record reservations of rights without precluding subsequent claims.

Q

Quality Certificate: Laboratory certificate accompanying bunker delivery summarizing test results against ISO 8217 or contract specification.
Quality Dispute: Commercial dispute over alleged off-specification fuel or cargo, investigated through cross-laboratory testing and forensic surveys.
Quantity Reconciliation: Comparison of barge, vessel, and surveyor figures to derive an agreed delivered quantity and quantify any difference.
Quantity Statement: Document recording opening, closing, and delivered quantities for a bunker or cargo operation, jointly signed.

R

Radar Tank Gauge: Tank level measurement device using microwave reflection, used in cargo and bunker tank measurement systems.
Reference Density: Density value at 15 degrees C used as the basis for petroleum measurement and custody transfer.
Reference Sample: Sealed sample retained by surveyor, supplier, or receiver against which subsequent disputes are arbitrated.
Reference Temperature: Standard temperature for LNG volume reporting, typically minus 161.5 degrees C per GIIGNL.
Refinery Off-Spec Investigation: Forensic study tracing off-specification fuel deliveries back to specific refinery streams or blending operations.
Reformate Content: Aromatic blendstock occasionally found in residual fuel, monitored for stability and CCAI implications.
Reliability Sample: Additional sample retained to support testing in the event of analytical disputes between primary laboratories.
Reproducibility Limit: Maximum acceptable difference between results from different laboratories on the same sample under ISO 4259.
Residual Marine Fuel: Heavy fuel oil derived from refinery residues blended to meet ISO 8217 RM grade specifications.
Retained sample: See MARPOL retained sample.
RMA 10: ISO 8217 residual grade with maximum viscosity 10 cSt at 50 C.
RMB 30: Residual grade with maximum viscosity 30 cSt at 50 C.
RMD 80: Residual grade with maximum viscosity 80 cSt at 50 C.
RME 180: Residual grade with maximum viscosity 180 cSt at 50 C, low residue.
RMG 180: Residual grade with maximum viscosity 180 cSt at 50 C.
RMG 380: Residual grade with maximum viscosity 380 cSt at 50 C, the workhorse pre-2020 HSFO.
RMG 500: Residual grade with maximum viscosity 500 cSt at 50 C.
RMG 700: Residual grade with maximum viscosity 700 cSt at 50 C.
RMK 380: Higher-density residual grade, max density 1010 kg/m3 at 15 C.
RMK 500: RMK grade at 500 cSt nominal viscosity.
RMK 700: RMK grade at 700 cSt nominal viscosity.
ROB: Remaining on Board.
ROB Acceptance Letter: Letter signed by receiver or surveyor accepting the remaining-on-board figure following discharge.
ROB Survey: Survey conducted to quantify remaining on board fuel or cargo after a discharge or before a bunker top-up.
Rotterdam Bunker Hub: Northwest European bunkering center within the ARA region, the largest bunker port in Europe by volume.

S

Saab Tank Radar: Brand of radar tank gauging system originally developed by Saab Marine, now part of Emerson Rosemount Tank Gauging.
Sample bottle: Compliant glass or amber HDPE container for bunker samples, sealed with tamper-evident closure and uniquely numbered.
Sample Chain of Custody: Documentation chain recording handling and transfer of a sealed sample from drawing to laboratory analysis.
Sample Seal Number: Unique identifier on a tamper-evident seal applied to a sample bottle, recorded on quantity and quality documentation.
Sampling cock: Valve installed in the receiving line for drip sampling.
Saybolt Inspection: Marine petroleum inspection service line within Saybolt covering ship and shore quantity and quality measurement.
Saybolt LP: Petroleum inspection brand operated by Core Laboratories providing bunker and cargo quantity and quality services worldwide.
Sealed Sample: Sample bottle secured with a tamper-evident seal at the time of drawing, retained as evidence in disputes.
SECA: Sulphur Emission Control Area, terminology superseded by ECA.
Sediment Spot Test: Filter paper screening test for sediment and compatibility on residual fuels at the manifold.
SGS: A Swiss-headquartered inspection, testing, and certification company providing extensive marine and cargo inspection services globally under the SGS brand.
SGS Bunker Marine Services: Bunker survey and testing service line within SGS operating in Singapore, Fujairah, Antwerp, Rotterdam, Houston, and Algeciras.
SGS Cargo Inspection: Cargo inspection division of SGS covering petroleum, chemical, agricultural, and minerals trades.
Ship-to-Ship Transfer Survey: Inspection of cargo transfer between two vessels under STS procedures, with quantity measured on both ships.
Shore Tank Gauging: Manual or automatic measurement of liquid cargo or fuel in shore tanks before and after a transfer.
Short Delivery Claim: Claim for compensation when delivered quantity falls below contracted or BDN quantity beyond contractual tolerance.
Siemens Sitrans FCT030: Coriolis mass flow meter family produced by Siemens, used in custody-transfer fuel applications.
Silicon Content: Silicon concentration in residual marine fuel measured per ISO 10478, an indicator of cat fines together with aluminum.
Singapore Biofuel Contamination 2022: Bunker quality episode in 2022 involving contaminated biofuel grades supplied in Singapore.
Singapore Bunker Hub: World's largest bunker port operating under MPA regulation with mandatory MFM custody transfer for fuel oil since 2017.
Singapore HSFO Contamination 2018: Bunker quality episode in 2018 involving contamination of high sulfur fuel oil supplied in Singapore.
Sludge Formation: Precipitation of asphaltenes and inorganic matter from incompatible residual fuels, screened by ASTM D4740 spot test.
SMS Inspection Group: Inspection group providing bunker and cargo survey services across selected hub ports.
Sodium Content: Sodium concentration in residual marine fuels measured per ISO 10478, linked to corrosion when combined with vanadium.
SOLAS Chapter VI Bulk Cargo: SOLAS chapter governing carriage of grain and other bulk cargoes, the legal anchor for many cargo survey procedures.
SOLAS V/2 VGM: SOLAS regulation requiring Verified Gross Mass for packed containers since 1 July 2016.
Sounding: Measured depth.
Sounding Bob: Weighted brass tip attached to a sounding tape, used to detect the liquid surface inside a tank.
Sounding pipe: Vertical pipe with screwed cap allowing tape sounding of tanks.
Sounding tape: UTI or steel tape graduated for tank sounding with water finding paste.
Specification Limit: Numerical limit set in ISO 8217 or a contract for a particular fuel property such as sulfur, viscosity, or density.
Spot Sample: Single sample drawn at one point in time from a tank or pipeline, distinct from a flow-proportional composite.
SS 600: Singapore Standard code of practice for bunkering procedures published by Enterprise Singapore.
SS 660: Singapore Standard providing the bunker mass flow metering custody-transfer framework.
SSL Marine Services: Singapore-based marine inspection company providing bunker and cargo survey services.
Standard Volume: Volume of petroleum product corrected to the reference temperature of 15 degrees C using ASTM D1250 / ISO 91 tables.
Stem: Trade term for a bunker delivery slot.
Stevedore Damage Survey: Recording of damage caused by stevedores during cargo operations.
STS transfer: Ship-to-ship transfer of cargo, used for LNG bunkering and LNG reloading from FSRUs.
Sulphur cap: 0.50% m/m global sulphur limit since 2020 under MARPOL Annex VI Reg 14.
Sulphur content: Mass percent of sulphur in fuel, measured per ISO 8754 or ASTM D4294.
Sulphur Verification Sample: MARPOL sample sealed by master and used for compliance verification by port state control authorities.
Supplier Composite Sample: Composite of barge or terminal samples retained by the supplier as evidence of delivered quality.
Surveyor's Note: Brief written observation by the surveyor on the BDN or quantity statement noting reservations or deviations.

T

Tally Survey: Counting of cargo packages, units, or pieces during loading or discharge, conducted by an independent tallyman.
Tank Calibration: Process of establishing the volume of a tank at successive sounding heights, certified by a competent authority or class.
Tank Cleaning Certificate: Document confirming that a cargo tank has been cleaned to a specified standard before loading a new product.
Tank Ullage Report: Document summarizing ullage, temperature, and density readings for every cargo or bunker tank at a given inventory point.
Temperature Correction Factor: Coefficient drawn from ASTM D1250 / ISO 91 tables that corrects observed volume to 15 degrees C standard.
Terminal Composite Sample: Sample assembled at a loading terminal representing the composite of all tanks contributing to a given parcel.
Test Method Precision: Statistical performance of an ISO test method expressed as repeatability and reproducibility per ISO 4259.
Time Bar: Limitation period (one year under Hague-Visby Article III Rule 6).
Total Sediment Aged: Sediment measurement after thermal aging of residual fuel per ISO 10307-2, indicating storage stability.
Total Sediment Potential: Sediment measurement on accelerated aging samples, used as a stability indicator in residual fuel testing.
Transit Loss Survey: Quantification of cargo loss during voyage by reconciling load port outturn against discharge port outturn.
Trim Correction: Correction applied for vessel trim during draft survey.
True Mass: Mass in vacuum derived from observed volume and density after applying buoyancy corrections.

U

Ullage: Empty space above liquid cargo in a tank.
Ullage Survey: Quantity determination using ullages on liquid cargo or bunker tanks.
Ullage Tape: Calibrated tape with marker used to measure ullage through a gauging hatch or vapor lock.
Uncompliant Fuel Notification: Communication to flag state or port state when fuel sulfur exceeds the applicable cap.
UNCTAD Draught Survey Procedure: Procedure for performing draft surveys published by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.
Universal Bunker Standard: Informal term sometimes used to refer to ISO 8217 as the de facto global specification for marine fuels.
Unsealed Sample: Sample bottle without a tamper-evident seal, generally not accepted as evidence in commercial disputes.

V

Vacuum Correction: Conversion between mass in air and mass in vacuum for fiscal and custody-transfer purposes.
Vanadium Content: Vanadium concentration in residual marine fuels determined per ISO 14597, linked to high-temperature corrosion of exhaust valves.
Vapor Lock: Closed device permitting insertion of sounding or sampling equipment into pressurized or inerted tanks without venting.
VEF: Vessel Experience Factor calculated from historical reconciliations between shore and ship figures, used to correct vessel measurements.
Vendor Composite Sample: Composite of barge or terminal samples retained by the seller in case of disputes over delivered quality.
Verified gross mass: VGM of containers under SOLAS Chapter VI.
Verify Sample: Reference sample drawn for confirmatory analysis when initial laboratory results are disputed.
Vessel Composite Sample: Composite sample assembled from individual vessel tank samples to represent total parcel quality.
Vessel Experience Factor Calculation: Statistical compilation of recent voyage data to derive a corrective multiplier for vessel measurements.
Vessel Manifold Sample: MARPOL sample drawn at the vessel's bunker manifold during the entire transfer.
Viscosity index: Measure of viscosity change with temperature, more relevant to lubricants than fuels.
Voyage Bunker Reconciliation: Comparison of bunker ROB, consumption, and supply for a complete voyage to detect leakage or measurement error.
VPS: Veritas Petroleum Services, marine fuel testing and inspection company operating under the DNV group.
VPS Athens: VPS regional bunker testing and advisory office serving Mediterranean and Black Sea trades.
VPS Houston: VPS regional bunker testing and advisory office serving the U.S. Gulf and Caribbean trades.
VPS Rotterdam: VPS regional bunker testing and advisory office serving the ARA region.
VPS Singapore: VPS regional bunker testing and advisory office serving Asian bunker hubs.
VPS Tokyo: VPS regional bunker testing and advisory office serving Japanese coastal and ocean bunker trades.

W

Wallem Bunker Service: Bunker brokerage and survey support service operated within the Wallem ship management group.
Water Cut Measurement: Determination of free water in cargo or bunker tanks by means of water-finding paste or distillation per ISO 3733.
Water Dip: Tank reading using water-finding paste on a sounding tape to detect the height of free water at the tank bottom.
Water in Fuel Test: Determination of water in petroleum products by distillation or Karl Fischer titration, with marine reference per ISO 3733.
Weather working day: WWD, day of 24 hours suitable for cargo work.
Wedge formula: Calculation correcting bunker quantities for trim and list.
Weight by Measurement: Cargo measurement method based on volume and density rather than direct weighing, used in liquid bulk and many dry bulk trades.
Witnessed Sampling: Sampling carried out in the presence of all parties to enhance evidential value of the resulting sample.

X

XRF Sulphur Analysis: X-ray fluorescence determination of sulfur in petroleum products per ISO 8754, ISO 14596, ASTM D2622, ASTM D4294, or ASTM D7039.

Y

Yokogawa RotaMass: Coriolis mass flow meter series used for LNG custody transfer measurement.

Z

Zinc content: Concentration of zinc in a lubricant, mainly indicative of ZDDP treat rate, measured by ICP-OES.
Zone Sampling: Drawing of samples from upper, middle, and lower zones of a tank to assess vertical homogeneity of a liquid cargo.