Quantity and quality disputes are a common occurrence in the carriage and transport of fuel cargoes.
From the subtle variations in the characteristics of crude oils, to water contaminations and cargo retention issues, fuel cargo disputes can be costly, time-consuming and damage reputations.
So, it’s vital that you protect yourself by drawing upon the best expertise in the event of a quantity or quality dispute.
Brookes Bell’s experts have over 30 years’ experience investigating quantity and quality disputes including various types of losses/shortages and different types of contamination in locations spanning the globe.
Investigation of types of losses/shortages
Brookes Bell deals with all aspects of fuel cargo losses; on board vessels, in oil terminals, during loading, carriage and subsequent discharge (whether by ship-to-ship (STS) operators or during transfer to/from shore tanks).
We are able to investigate losses from sources such as:
- Mismeasurement of fuel cargoes and water in shore tanks, before/after loading
- Mismeasurement of on-board quantity (OBQ) residues in cargo tanks, before loading
- Mismeasurement of fuel cargoes and water in cargo tanks, after loading
- Apparent in-transit losses of cargo, caused by previously unmeasured water settlement and/or evaporation of cargo lighter fractions on the loaded voyage
- Inadvertent leakage of fuel cargo, whether on board, ashore, or both
- Shoreline fullness mismeasurement at the start of discharge
- Mismeasurement of cargo and water in shore tanks, after completion of discharge
- Mismeasurement of remaining on board (ROB) residues in cargo tanks, before/after discharge
- Paper losses caused by differing measurement and calculation procedures
Investigation of types of fuel cargo contamination
Our team is adept at investigating various types of contamination, whether they’ve occured due to human error, segregation on board, leakage through poorly-maintained vessel structures and equipment, or a host of other reasons.
With the specifications of fuel cargoes becoming increasingly complex and restrictive, it’s vital that you choose a partner such as Brookes Bell that has the expertise, experience and global footprint that’s necessary to accurately investigate any disputes.
Brookes Bell can investigate all types of fuel cargo contamination (or quality dispute) caused by one or more of the following:
- Liquid contamination caused by the ingress of other liquid cargo, cargo valve mal-operation, or issues with steel bulkhead integrity
- Loss of integrity of inert gas blanket and/or quality of the latter
- Contamination by past cargo residues caused by either poor cargo tank preparation and/or poor cargo tank coating condition
- Water contamination by fresh and/or sea water
- Inherent vice of the cargo
- Contamination and/or loss of quality caused by poor heating control either during the loaded passage or during discharge
- Specification and test method anomalies
Get the resolution you want for your fuel cargo quality or quantity dispute with Brookes Bell.
Contact us today and find out how our expertise, culture of innovation, global footprint and focus on cost, can help you come out on top.