Reducing Bunker Disputes Through Independent Verification
How independent quantity and quality verification protects both owners and suppliers.
Bunker disputes typically arise from a mismatch between what a supplier's delivery note states and what the vessel's own soundings suggest was received. Left unresolved, these disputes tie up commercial teams for weeks and strain supplier relationships.
Independent verification — an experienced third-party surveyor attending the transfer, taking soundings before and after, and monitoring flow meter readings throughout — removes the ambiguity. Combined with certified sampling for quality, it gives both sides a shared, trusted record.
Operators who build independent bunker survey attendance into their standard procurement process consistently report fewer disputes and faster resolution when discrepancies do occur.