Emerson’s Certified Marine Bunker Measurement Solution provides Maersk with transparent, traceable fuel measurement

Micro Motion® Coriolis mass-based measurement delivers increased accuracy and improved bunkering efficiency 

BOULDER, COLO (June 22, 2011) - Emerson’s Micro Motion® Certified Marine Bunker Measurement Solution for measuring heavy fuel oil (HFO) bunker deliveries is being installed on Maersk vessels. The measurement solution meets international standards for custody transfer and enables accurate, transparent and traceable HFO measurements that are accepted by fuel suppliers to Maersk. It provides real-time HFO bunker measurements that increase operational efficiency, minimize disputes, and provide automated electronic Bunker Delivery Tickets.

In December 2010, the Maersk Bulan became the world’s first cargo vessel equipped with a Micro Motion Certified Marine Bunker Measurement Solution. “Emerson’s Micro Motion Certified Bunker Solution allows us to remove uncertainty and improve transparency on custody transfer of fuel oil, which is our largest cost item, while at the same time increasing our operational efficiency,” said Jesper Rosenkrans, Maersk. “This makes our investment in Emerson’s Micro Motion solution an attractive proposition."

Micro Motion Coriolis meters for bunker measurement were first implemented by A.P. Moller Maersk on a number of vessels in 2008. While the initial results were good, Maersk and the industry as a whole needed a transparent and traceable bunker measurement system based around the Micro Motion Coriolis meter to provide the necessary confidence and drive a true global industry change.

Further work was undertaken by Emerson, with agreement from Maersk and their partners, to develop a deeper understanding of the challenges of bunkering fluid dynamics. This included addressing the issues to realize a direct mass-based, independently accredited, bunkering custody transfer solution for two-phase HFO.

The Certified Marine Bunker Measurement Solution includes a Micro Motion ELITE® Coriolis meter, Series 3000 transmitter with Marine Bunker Transfer Package, and bunker delivery ticket printer. The system is capable of handling the density and viscosity inconsistencies inherent in HFO and was certified by Nederlands Meetinstituut (NMi), the notified body for testing to the guidelines of the European Instruments Directive (MID) and Issuing Authority for OIML (International Organization for Legal Metrology).  The solution meets the OIML standard R117-1 and the MID standard 2004/22/EC Annex MI-005.