UK: The London P&I Club has advised its members to take precautionary measures against the 'cappuccino effect in bunkering.
In its press release yesterday, the protection and indemnity association stated that cappuccino effect or frothing effect usually takes place when compressed air is blown through the delivery hose during the bunkering process. The compressed air will then inflate the bunker volume, giving the impression that fuel is delivered as ordered.
Subsequently, the entrapped air will settle out of the fuel oil and the oil level will drop, revealing the shortfall in the bunker volume. Bunker buyers will then be short-changed of what they paid for.
"There are a number of ways in which cappuccino bunkers may be identified," the club said. "These include signs of froth or foam on the surface of the fuel in the barge tanks when opening the gauge, and excessive bubbles on the sounding tape prior to, during and after bunkering.
"The bunker hose may also jerk or whip around, delivery rates may be slower than those agreed, and there may be a gurgling sound in the vicinity of the bunker manifold.
"There may also be fluctuations in pressure on the manifold pressure gauge, and unusual noises from the bunker barge," explained the club.
The club urges its members to be vigilant before the fuel transfer takes place. For instance, bunker buyers should visually check for any foam on the surface of the fuel oil from ullage hatches.
Similarly, the club calls for its members to be cautious during and after fuel transfer, such as continuing to gauge the ship's tanks for air bubbles on the sounding tape throughout the pumping period. After the transfer, members can perform stripping at the end of the bunker delivery for a short period and line blowing kept to a minimum.
In addition, the club noted that the ship's bunker manifold valve should be checked shut before gauging of the ship's tanks.