Commitment to best practice

The International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA) has re-emphasised its commitment to best practice in bunkering operations throughout the world.

Following recent reports of alleged difficulties encountered by certain bunker surveyors and quality inspectors in gaining reasonable and commercially feasible access to vessels in Singapore, a meeting of the IBIA Executive Committee recently met. It emphasised that IBIA reaffirms its commitment to fully support all legitimate and accredited attempts by supply chain stakeholders which strive to maintain and protect the quality of bunkers, good procedures and promote service excellence by attending their safe and on-spec delivery, which ultimately can only enhance market transparency and integrity.

As per Association’s comment IBIA is dedicated to upholding best practice in all areas of the bunker industry, in all parts of the world. That includes Singapore's codes of practice for bunkering by barges and tankers (CP60) and for bunker surveying in Singapore (CP77). It is not IBIA's role to involve itself in the commercial aspects of local disputes. Rather, IBIA has a global remit to promote and uphold best practice throughout the industry. These are difficult times for bunkering - financially, politically and environmentally - and it is essential that the industry operates within safe, honest and transparent guidelines. Procedures and regulations are in place to ensure that those objectives are met and to deal with any abuse of the rules if and when they occur. Now, more than ever, it is vital that they should be seen to do so.