Bunkering: The Most Nerve-Wracking Day for the Engine Room. How Not to Spill on Deck and Not Accept Water

Hey mechanics and chief officers! Today we're talking about bunkering — taking on fuel aboard. For the engine room team (especially the second engineer), bunkering day is guaranteed stress. One mistake can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars and cause an environmental catastrophe.

The golden rule is strict adherence to the Bunkering Check-list. Before receiving fuel, the deck is sealed: scuppers are plugged, drip pans are placed under hose connections, and the SOPEP emergency station is prepared. The chief engineer personally checks the bunkering supplier's documents and takes samples (Drip Sampler). A common supplier scam is the Cappuccino Effect: compressed air is mixed into the fuel oil, the tank reads "full" on measurement, but a couple of hours later the air escapes and a shortage of 20–30 tons is discovered. And if the watch officer misses the level and fuel starts pouring over the air vent into the sea — environmental fines, coast guard involvement, and dismissal.

Guys, has anyone had mishaps during bunkering operations? Caught suppliers short-delivering? How did you deal with it if fuel went "over the top"?