RESOURCE GUIDE ON BUNKER FUEL

This resource guide contains a selection of NTU Library books and book chapters, and online
resources on bunker fuel or marine fuel as it relates to Maritime Studies.

Introduction

‘Bunker fuel’ or ‘bunkers’, is the term used to describe fuel consumed by ships’ engines. The
name has its origins in the 19th century and is derived from the holds, or ‘bunkers’ used to store
coal for steam-powered ships. Ships began to switch from coal to oil as the oil industry
developed, but the ships’ fuel storage compartments kept their original name. A more accurate
term would probably be ‘marine fuel’. A milestone in the development of the marine fuel
industry was the 1911 decision by the United Kingdom to convert naval vessels from coal to
‘bunker oil’. [Extracted from “Complete Guide to the Bunker Fuel Market 2008”]

Searching the Library Catalogue

You can locate books by using the Library Catalogue. Use ‘bunker fuel’ or ‘bunkers’ in TITLE
search or ‘ships fuel’ in SUBJECT search.

Note: ‘ships fuel’ is the subject heading used to describe all books that have content dealing with bunker
fuel.

Selected book titles

I have selected a few books that I believe are best bets if you are trying to gain an understanding of
this topic.

Title: Complete Guide to the Bunker Fuel Market 2008

Author: Jameson, Nick.
Call number: VM779.J31 (click to check availability)

The Complete Guide to the Bunker Market 2008 basically reflects the
changes in the market from 2007 to 2008, providing updated data on
market share as well as key port-by-port analysis. It is in 3 sections: (i)
Concepts [The History of ‘Bunker Fuel’, Price Structure, The Oil Majors,
Industry Regulation, etc.], (ii) Global Marine Fuel Volumes [Regional bunker

Created by Lim Kong Meng for Maritime Studies on 11 November 2010

All Rights Reserved. NTU Library
 demand, Principal Bunker ports by region etc] & (iii) Port Profiles and
Market Share [Busan, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore, Los Angeles,
Rotterdam etc]. It also shows you a background on how the industry works.

Title: Neil Cockett on bunkers

Publisher: Cockett, Neil.
Call number: V240.C666 (Click to check for availability)

Bunkers are the lifeblood of the shipping industry - their availability, quality and, above all
else, cost often determines whether a ship owner can operate efficiently and profitably.
"Cockett on bunkers" provides those involved in the shipping and oil industries with an
understanding of the worldwide bunker fuel industry and a comprehensive manual that
can be used as a reference in day-to-day bunker management and operation. "Cockett on
bunkers" contains up-to-date information on marine fuel standards and monitoring
services, bunker buying techniques, bunker suppliers and the art of blending, pricing and
bunkering operational procedures and takes into account recent developments in these
areas.

Title: Bunkers : an analysis of the practical, technical and legal issues

Author: Fisher, Christopher
Call number: VK236.F533 (Click to check for availability)

This edition (3rd) include the latest on international fuel specifications and
standards, the ratification of IMO’s MARPOL Annex VI and upcoming
environmental protection issues and an extensive analysis of fuel treatment and
laboratory test methods. Its legal section also provides a unique source of essential
information for those involved in marine fuels, including guidelines to assist in the
avoidance of costly bunker disputes.

Titles: An introduction to fuel analysis

Author: Draffin, Nigel
Call number: TP321.D758 (Click to check availability)

An Introduction to Fuel Analysis provides an understanding of bunker

fuels and what they contain, how to test each key parameter and what the
test results actually mean, and what happens when problem results
appear. Although never a substitute for the huge amount of detail that can
be obtained from a professional analyst using a fully-equipped modern
laboratory, this book provides a substantial amount of information that
should be welcomed and absorbed by anyone involved in any way with
marine fuels.

Created by Lim Kong Meng for Maritime Studies on 11 November 2010

All Rights Reserved. NTU Library
 Title: Bunkers: A Guide for the Ship Operator
Author: W. D. Ewart
Call number: VK236.E94 (Click to check availability)

Though published in 1982, book provides outline on issues relating to marine

bunkers based on the aftermath of the 1973-74 oil crisis. Topics include the
different marine fuel grades, legal problems (customers’ rights & the suppliers’
obligations), shipboard fuel systems, bunker adjustment factors and its effects
on freight rates, development of marine fuel specification and the cost of
bunkers.

Title: An introduction to bunkering

Author: Draffin, Nigel
Call number: VM779.D758 (Click to check availability)

This book gives both the history and most basic concepts of maritime fuels and
builds from there, providing an essential knowledge-base for anyone working in
shipping or starting a career in bunkering

Title: An introduction to bunker operations

Author: Draffin, Nigel
Call number: VK236.D758 (Click to check availability)

The book contains photographs, charts and diagrams intended to help the
reader visualize important aspects of bunker operations, from flanges, hoses
and samplers, to barges, pipelines, road tankers and storage tanks. It covers
everything that needs to be understood and remembered, from plugging
scuppers to fastening bolts on a bunker flange, and covers storage, measuring,
delivery, sampling and handling of bunker fuels and debunkering.

Selected book chapters

The following 2 books have chapters devoted to bunkers. Click on the book titles to check
availability.

1. Drewry Shipping Consultants., The Drewry annual container market review and forecast
2009/1, Drewry Shipping Consultants Ltd.: London. p.v. [See Page 202 on European
trades – bunker surcharge developments]

Created by Lim Kong Meng for Maritime Studies on 11 November 2010

All Rights Reserved. NTU Library
 2. Grammenos, C.T., The handbook of maritime economics & business. 2002, London; Hong
Kong: LLP, xxiv, 930p. [See Page 712 to 723 on bunker prices]

Bunkering market information

1. Rim Bunker Intelligence Daily (available through database Factiva) - Coverage includes
information for the world-wide bunkering market. Includes information on marine fuel and
diesel oil prices at 32 major bunkering ports in the world, plus posted price adjustments.
Country of origin: Japan

2. Platts Bunkerwire - http://www.platts.com/Products/bunkerwire/ - focuses on marine fuel

prices and supply in major ports worldwide [Note: subscription required; selected issues
available free on the Internet]

3. The International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA) – www.ibia.net

Sign up for the free news alert under World Bunkering

4. Bunkerworld – http://www.bunkerworld.com - news and information relating to the

marine fuel [Note: subscription required]

News on bunkers

The following are 2 important websites for shipping news. Look up news relating to bunker
fuels by entering keywords into the search box:

1. The Journal of Commerce Online - http://www.joc.com/maritime

2. Maritime Today - http://www.maritimetoday.com/News.aspx

References

Jameson, N. (2008). Complete guide to the bunker fuel market 2008. Singapore: Petromedia.

Created by Lim Kong Meng for Maritime Studies on 11 November 2010

All Rights Reserved. NTU Library