MGO Bunkering & Marine Fuel Handling

MGO Bunkering & Marine Fuel Handling Safe, Compliant and Efficient Marine Gas Oil (MGO) Bunkering Operations

Course Code: SCI-MGO-201 Duration: 5 Days Delivery: Classroom Sectors: Shipping & Maritime | Oil & Gas | Ports & Terminals | HSE Compliance

Upcoming Scheduled Sessions

Fee is per delegate and includes course materials, certificate, and daily refreshments. Additional cities and in-house delivery available on request.

Course Introduction

Marine Gas Oil (MGO) bunkering is one of the most safety-critical and commercially sensitive operations in ship and terminal management. Errors in fuel handling, quality verification, or documentation can result in spills, engine damage, regulatory penalties, and significant financial loss. This 5-day program equips engineers, deck officers, terminal operators, bunker surveyors, and fuel procurement professionals with the technical knowledge and procedural discipline required to plan, execute, and document safe MGO bunkering operations in full compliance with international regulations.

The course combines regulatory frameworks (MARPOL Annex VI, ISO 8217:2024, ISGOTT, SOLAS, ISM Code) with hands-on operational practice — covering pre-bunkering planning, ship-shore/ship-barge interface safety, sampling and quality control, quantity measurement, spill prevention, and commercial documentation including the Bunker Delivery Note (BDN) and FONAR procedures.

Who Should Attend

• Ship's engineers, chief engineers, and deck officers involved in bunkering operations

• Terminal and jetty operators handling MGO/fuel oil transfer

• Bunker surveyors, inspectors, and fuel quality control personnel

• Fuel procurement, chartering, and marine operations professionals

• HSE officers responsible for bunkering risk management

• Port authority and regulatory compliance staff

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Explain the regulatory framework governing MGO bunkering (MARPOL Annex VI, ISO 8217:2024, SOLAS, ISM Code)

• Plan and execute a safe ship-shore/ship-barge bunkering operation using the Bunker Safety Checklist

• Identify the physical and chemical properties of MGO and other marine fuels

• Apply correct sampling, testing, and quantity measurement procedures (including Mass Flow Meters)

• Recognize and respond to fuel quality issues such as cat-fines, water contamination, and high acidity

• Prevent, contain, and respond to bunkering spills and emergencies

• Complete and verify Bunker Delivery Notes (BDN) and understand their legal significance

• Understand sulphur cap compliance, FONAR procedures, and emissions documentation

Daily Course Outline

Day 1 — Regulatory Framework & Fundamentals of Marine Fuel

• Overview of the global bunkering industry and key market players

• Introduction to marine fuel types: HFO, MGO, VLSFO, ULSFO, and alternative fuels (LNG, biofuels, methanol)

• Physical and chemical properties of MGO: density, viscosity, flash point, cetane number, sulphur content

• ISO 8217:2024 — Specifications for marine fuels (class F, including MGO grades)

• MARPOL Annex VI: sulphur emission control areas (SECA/ECA) and global sulphur cap

• Role of the International Safety Management (ISM) Code in bunkering safety

Day 2 — Pre-Bunkering Planning & Ship-Shore Interface Safety

• Pre-bunkering risk assessment and operational planning

• The Bunker Safety Checklist: joint ship-shore/ship-barge responsibilities

• Communication protocols and emergency response planning during bunkering

• Hazardous zone classification, ignition sources, and electrostatic charge control

• Piping systems, manifold connections, and tank gauging fundamentals

• ISGOTT guidance applied to bunkering interface safety

• Fire detection and firefighting systems relevant to bunkering stations

Day 3 — Sampling, Testing & Quantity Measurement

• IMO MSC-MEPC.2/Circ.18: guidelines for sampling fuel oil for MARPOL Annex VI compliance

• MARPOL representative sampling procedures and the MARPOL sample seal

• On-site testing methods and laboratory analysis interpretation

• Identifying fuel quality issues: cat-fines, water/sediment contamination, high acidity, off-spec fuel

• Quantity measurement techniques: tank soundings, ullage, and Mass Flow Meters (MFM)

• Discrepancy resolution between supplier and receiving vessel figures

Day 4 — Documentation, Compliance & Commercial Aspects

• The Bunker Delivery Note (BDN): structure, legal significance, and IMO MEPC.1/Circ.508 requirements

• MSDS requirements per IMO Resolution MSC.286(86)

• Fuel Oil Non-Availability Reports (FONAR) and sulphur cap non-compliance procedures

• Guidance for fuel oil suppliers — IMO MEPC.1/Circ.875/Add.1 best practice

• BIMCO & IBIA Bunkering Guide: commercial terms and dispute avoidance

• Fuel procurement, supplier vetting, and pricing/purchasing strategy essentials

Day 5 — Emergency Response, Spill Prevention & Practical Assessment

• Spill prevention measures and containment equipment

• Emergency response procedures for bunkering-related incidents

• Environmental risk management and reporting obligations

• Case study review: analysis of real-world bunkering incidents and near-misses

• Practical workshop: completing a full bunkering operation checklist end-to-end

• Final assessment and course review (70% pass mark)

• Certification and course close-out

Training Methodology

This course uses a blended delivery approach combining instructor-led sessions, real-world case studies, group exercises, and a practical end-to-end bunkering checklist workshop. Where delivered in-house, sessions can be adapted to client-specific vessel types, fuel grades, and terminal configurations.

Key Reference Standards & Guidance

• ISO 8217:2024 — Petroleum, synthetic and renewable fuels (class F) specifications

• MARPOL Annex VI — Prevention of air pollution from ships

• SOLAS — International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea

• ISM Code — International Safety Management Code

• ISGOTT (International Safety Guide for Oil Tankers and Terminals), 6th Edition

• IMO MEPC.1/Circ.508 — Bunker Delivery Note and Fuel Oil Sampling

• IMO MSC-MEPC.2/Circ.18 — Guidelines for sampling fuel oil

• IMO MEPC.1/Circ.875/Add.1 — Best practice guidance for fuel oil suppliers

• IMO Resolution MSC.286(86) — MSDS recommendations for MARPOL Annex I oil cargo/fuel

• BIMCO & IBIA Bunkering Guide

Certification

Participants who successfully complete the course requirements and achieve a minimum 70% pass mark on the final assessment will receive a Certificate of Completion issued by SCI Training and Consultation Center FZE.

Contact & Registration

SCI Training and Consultation Center FZE — Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone, UAE Email: info@scitcc.com | Phone: +971 56 692 2928 | Web: scitcc.com