William

BUNKER: Quantity Calculation & Temperature-Density Correction:

William G.Senior Surveyor at National Cargo Bureau, Inc.Top Contributor
.
After bunkering of various fuel oil tanks, the quantity in each bunkered tank must be
calculated to cross-check whether the received quantity of oil matches the requisition.
For calculating the quantity, "sounding" of the tanks which are "bunkered" must be
taken. The "Density" of the fuel oil supplied vary from place to place. It also varies
with the temperature. As a thumb rule, the density of fuel oil decreases with increase in
temperature. So, when the oil is supplied at a higher temperature, then the volume of oil
supplied is less than what is supplied at lesser temperature.

Oil Temperature ----------------------------Density ------------------------------- Volume Of

Oil Supplied

Increases--------------------------------------Decreases------------------------------------Lesser

Decreases--------------------------------- ---Increases -------------------------------------More

Also the formula which is generally used for temperature-density correction is as

follows:

MT = (Temperature Corrected density * Actual Sounded Volume).

Temperature Corrected Density can be calculated with the under-mentioned fomula:

Temperature corrected Density

= (Density of Fuel Oil @ 15 degree Celsius) * [1- {(T-15) * 0.00064}]

Where:
T stands for temperature of oil in bunker tanks in degree celcius,
0.00064 is the correction factor,

Actual Sounded Volume = volume of oil in m^3, is obtained from the sounding table
and corrected for list and trim.
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 November 11, 2012

Comments
Capt Tariq K., Maan M. and 8 others like this
6 comments

MIGUEL
MIGUEL S.
MARINE SURVEYOR

ALSO, THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF BUNKER IN AN TANK IS OBTAINED AS FOLLOW :

SG AT 15 C TIMES CUBIC MTRS LIQUID IN TANK TIMES FACTOR OF BUNKER AT ACTUAL
TEMPERATURE.- ( USING PETROEUM TABLES 54 AND 56 ). PLEASE IF IT IS NOT CORRRECT, LET ME
KNOW.THANKS

William
William G.
Senior Surveyor at National Cargo Bureau, Inc.
Top Contributor

It all depends if you have the tables! There are many "old school" Chief Engineers that do not use the tables or do
not have them on board. I also have tables, however it is nice to have a back-up.

You actually do need to observe the bunker oil temperature.

One year between February and March when the Seawater temperature was about 8 degrees C, I was asked to do a
bunker survey about 4 days after the bunkers were delivered. At the time of delivery the bunkers were reported to be
45 degrees C. When we first did the calculation I could not get agreement using the Chief Engineer's temperatures.
The Chief Engineer assumed the unheated oil in No. 1 FOT had cooled down to the temperature of the Harbor Water
which was 8 degrees. When we actually took a temperature on the tank it was 20 degree C! When we used the actual
observed temperature everything worked out just fine. So the oil can retain its temperature for longer than you can
think.

MIGUEL
MIGUEL S.
MARINE SURVEYOR

VERY GOOD YOUR INFORMATION MR WILLIAM, THANKS



William
William G.
Senior Surveyor at National Cargo Bureau, Inc.
Top Contributor

My good friend Maciej (Michael) Wieruszewski

Principal Marine Surveyor at MW Marine Services, LLC,
sent me the following comment:

Bill, I would like to make a comment about bunker calculations.

Density is the term meaning the mass of a unit volume. Specific Gravity is the ratio of the weight of a given volume
of the material at a stated temperature to the weight of an equal volume of distilled water at a stated temperature.

To calculate the weight of the fuel we need to find out the volume and temperature. Having Density and temperature
enter Table 54B to obtain Volume Correction Factor. Now, multiply volume by VCF to obtain volume corrected for
the temperature. When we multiply volume by the Density at the same temperature, the result is a weight in vacuum.
Then, to determine weight (kilogram per liter at 15'C in air), subtract 0.0011 from the Density at 15'C (which is
Specific Gravity). Other words, the weight in kilograms in air is: volume corrected for the temperature * Specific
Gravity @ 15'C.
Specific Gravity = Density - 0.0011

Tito
Tito A.
Marine Surveyor (Licensed Naval Architect & Marine Engineer)

To simplify:
Mass = Density x Volume

Where:
Density = Temperature Corrected Density = VCF x WCF
Volume = Actual Sounded Volume

Therefore:
Mass = VCF x WCF x Actual Sounded Volume

Where:
VCF = 1- {(T-15) * 0.00064}
WCF = Density @ 15 deg.C - 0.0011
3 Important Calculations Every Marine Engineer Must Know On Ships
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APRIL 21, 2014 BY ANANTH T13 COMMENTS

In ship’s engine room, a number of gauging instruments

display various important parameters such as level, pressure,
temperature etc. But there are some essential parameters which
cannot be read directly through any instrument as they depend on a
number of dynamic factors.

This demands the marine engineer working onboard ships to do some

formula based calculations by considering all those factors and with
possible available inputs. Of all the important calculations that are to
be done on board ships, there a few ones which marine engineers must
know without fail.

Following are 3 important parameters which are most often required to

be calculated by marine engineers for record keeping:

1. Bunker Calculation:
 Bunker terms to fuel oil in maritime
industry. Bunker quantity calculation is the most important calculation
which every marine engineer should be familiar with throughout his
career. Bunker fuel, being a high valued product, has to be very
carefully and accurately calculated for determining the quantity.

The volume of definite quantity of bunker increases with increase in

temperature whereas its weight remains the same. For this reason,
bunker is always ordered and measured in weight and not by volume.

Also all the energy and efficiency calculations of fuel on board ships
are calculated in terms of mass of the fuel rather than its volume.
(Calculation of bunker fuel quantity in weight involves many factors to
be considered making it more complex.)

Mostly, the fourth engineer will be the deputy of the Chief engineer
for receiving bunker & measuringthe bunker quantity for maintaining
records.

Mentioned below is the procedure for measuring and calculating the

bunker quantity:
-> Once the total quantity (tonnes) of bunker fuel to be received is
confirmed, take sounding of ship’s bunker tanks & calculate the
available quantity of fuel oil onboard to formulate a bunkering plan
denoting how much tonnes of fuel to be bunkered on each tank & the
tank sequence of bunkering.

-> Before commencing of bunker operations, confirm the temperature

at which the bunker is to be received and note down the standard
density of the fuel oil. With this parameters calculate the volume of
bunker to be received in each tank as per bunkering plan and note
down the final sounding level of each tank after bunkering using
capacity table for the ease of stopping & change over to next tank.

The basic formula used for calculating the bunker quantity in weight
is:

Mass = Volume x Density

-> It is to be noted that in the above formula, the density and volume
of bunker fuel should be known at same temperature.

-> After receiving the bunker, take sounding/ullage of all the bunker
tanks using sounding tape and note down the tank temperature. Use
sounding paste in the tape while measuring distillate fuel such as MDO
for easy reading.

-> Ship always does not float with even keel so the floating conditions
of the ship such as trim and list should be well noted while taking the
sounding of bunker tanks.

-> Every ship is provided with a tank capacity table in which each
tank capacity in volume is marked against the successive levels of
sounding/ullage with correction factors under various trim and heel
conditions of the ship. The volume of fuel oil at tank temperature for
the corresponding tank sounding is thus measured using tank capacity
table, which gives the actual sounded volume.

-> The density of fuel oil (in kg/m3) at standard reference temperature
of 15⁰C is always provided by the supplier in Bunker Delivery Note.
With this the density of fuel oil at tank temperature can be determined
using ASTM table or using software most commonly installed on all
ship’s computer.

The formula used to calculate the Temperature Corrected Density is:

= (Density of Fuel Oil @ 15⁰C) x [1- {(T-15) x 0.00064}]

Where:
T = temperature of oil in bunker tanks in degree celcius,
0.00064 = Correction factor

Since the bunker oil is normally supplied to the vessel at temperature

higher then 15⁰C, the formula used for calculating the bunker quantity
in weight will be-

Metric Tonnes = (Actual Sounder Volume) X (Temperature Corrected

Density)

-> The corresponding values of each tank are tabulated for easy
reading and the total weight of bunker quantity is calculated.
2. Specific Fuel Oil Consumption (SFOC):

Specific fuel oil consumption is the measure of mass of fuel consumed

per unit time to produce per KW. The marine engine efficiency is
usually determined using the SFOC.

In order to achieve accuracy, the fuel consumption and power

developed is always measured over a suitable time period on a good
weather. The formula used for calculating SFOC is:

SFOC (g/kwh) = Mass of fuel consumed per hour / Power developed in

KW

-> The readings of flow meter to main engine should be noted over the
specified time interval say 1 hour. With the difference in readings the
volume of fuel consumed is obtained. It can also be measured by
noting down the HFO service tank reading provided the oil is being
supplied only to main engine.

-> The mass of observed volume of fuel consumed can be determined

by following the above said bunker calculation procedure.
-> The horse power can be measured using dynamometer if fitted on
the shaft of the engine which will indicate the BHP in digital indicator.
If not, the horse power can also be calculated using engine rpm and
average pump fuel index with the aid of engine characteristic curve of
various sea trials which is supplied by the manufacturer. However the
calorific value of the fuel used for sea trial may differ and hence
compensation factor has to be determined to obtain the accuracy in
calculation.
3. Percentage of Slip:

Slip is considered as the

difference between the speed of the engine and actual speed of the
ship. It is always calculated in percentage. Positive slip is influenced
by various reasons such as fouled bottom or hull part which offers
resistance to the movement of ship, environmental factors such as
water current and wind against the ship direction. Slip may be
negative if the ship speed is influenced by following sea or wind.
Engine slip is calculated daily onboard the vessel and recorded in log
book.

Engine distance – Observed distance

Percentage of Slip = ————————————————– X 100%

Engine distance

 The actual distance (nautical mile) covered by the ship from noon to
noon is measured using ship’s log.

 The total revolutions of the propeller from noon to noon is obtained

using revolution counter. The engine distance can be calculated using
 the pitch of the propeller provided by the manufacturer. Care must be
taken in unit conversion of pitch from meter to nautical mile (in general
1 NM = 1800m).

Engine distance in nautical mile = (Pitch x revolutions per day)

Obtaining the accuracy of value in all the above calculations are

always challenging onboard as the parameters recorded are more
sensitive to dynamic conditions of the ship and also depends on
various environmental factors.

Over to you…

Do you know any other important calculation that can be added to this
list?

Let us know in the comments below.

Sunday, 11 August 2013

BUNKER CALCULATION

BUNKER CALCULATION

TAKE THE ULLAGE OF THE TANK AS IT IS HEAVY OIL THE ULLAGE IS 2.99.mtr.ASK BRIDGE
ABOUT TRIM SUPPOSE TRIM IS 0.8mtr.BY AFT,FROM SOUNDING TABLE TAKE THE TRIM
CORRECTION . IF ULLAGE TRIM CORRECTION FOR 0.8mtr. is -2cm. NOW THE ULLAGE IS 2,97.mtr.
THE VOLUME OF ULLAGE IS 105.529.m3 ,THIS IS OBSERVED VOLUME,TAKE THE TEMPERATURE
OF THE TANK THE TEMPERATURE IS 48°C. AS THE BUNKER DELIVERY NOTE THE DENSITY OF
THE BUNKER IS 988.KG/m3.AT 15°C. FROM THE VOLUME CORRECTION TABLE WE CAN FIND
OUT THE CORRECTION FACTOR FOR THE OIL FOR 988.KG/m3 DENSITY IS 0.9773.

TEMP.°C DENSITY AT 15°C.KG/m3 CORRECTION FACTOR

48°C 988.KG/m3 0.9773
THERE FORE THE VOLUME OF OIL AT 15°C.WILL BE105.529 MULTIPLIED BY 0.9773 = 103.133.m3
THE DENSITY IS THE ABSOLUTE RELATION SHIP BETWEEN MASS AND VOLUME, NOT WEIGHT TO
VOLUME.THE DENSITY IS THERE FORE "IN VACUO"
SO, MASS = DENSITY X VOLUME = 988.kg X 103.133 = 101895.89.kg = 101.896.M.T. THIS IS IN VACUO

DENSITY AT 15°C.KG/m3 FACTOR FOR CONVERTING WEIGHT IN VACUO

TO WEIGHT IN AIR
975.7 to 1060.4 0.99895

SO WEIGHT OF THE BUNKER IN AIR = 101.896 X 0.99895 = 101.781.M.T.