Shipowners and operators have been urged to review their fuel and lubricating oil sampling practices following the International Maritime Organization (IMO)’s revision of its MARPOL guidelines.
Welcoming the changes to the guidelines, maritime monitoring company CM Technologies (CMT) said the changes offered the industry an opportunity to raise standards, reduce risk and improve transparency throughout the fuel supply chain.
“Sampling is often regarded as a technicality, but it is the foundation for effective compliance and dispute resolution,” CM Technologies (CMT) managing director David Fuhlbrügge said on 22 May.
However, he said the updated guidelines meant ship owners and operators should be more aware of following the correct protocols.
Recent amendments to MARPOL Annex VI and SOLAS Chapter II-2 include a 50% increase in the required sample volume and stricter expectations around equipment, handling and record-keeping.
The IMO’s updated protocol, MSC-MEPC.2/Circ.18, mandates that fuel samples collected for MARPOL compliance should now be a minimum of 600ml, up from the previous 400ml. This change ensures there is sufficient material to perform both sulphur content testing under MARPOL and flash point testing under SOLAS requirements. It also reinforces proper sampling procedures, including the use of tamper-evident containers, accurate labelling and secure onboard storage.
“Too often, we see crew improvising with makeshift containers due to a lack of proper gear on board. Samples are often sent to labs in recycled beverage bottles – which can invalidate test results.”
Chemical additives designed to make plastic bottles flexible and other contaminants such as residual sweeteners, flavourings or cleaning agents can alter the properties of the sample, undermining test accuracy and also potentially leading to delays, re-sampling or even the rejection of results by the laboratory, according to CMT.
“Labs may refuse to analyse non-compliant samples and, in some cases, will charge extra to transfer samples to proper containers, creating additional delays and cost,” Fuhlbrügge said.
Poor sampling practices could also carry serious legal and commercial consequences, he added.
“With the new IMO regulations in place, ship managers and crews can’t afford to take shortcuts. Proper sampling verifies that delivered fuel and oil conform to operational standards. If disputes arise, the integrity of that sample becomes critical. Any sign of tampering, contamination or inadequate documentation could trigger fines, detention or liability.”
The company said it was preparing additional training resources and documentation to support shipowners and crew during the transition period.
