BUNKER QUALITY & CLAIMS MANAGEMENT
Monday 24 June 2019 ~ One-day Course
This intensive training course will focus exclusively on fuel quality and claims management, examining the major fuel contamination problems that hit the markets in Houston, Panama and Singapore in 2018, causing serious – and very expensive – machinery problems. It will also look at 2020 fuel quality expectations and how to prepare supply chains and ships for handling the 0.50% sulphur fuels that are now starting to appear in the market.
Standard Price: £650
COURSE DIRECTOR

Chris Fisher
Chris served as a marine engineer on tankers after studies at Poplar Marine College, and, having sailed as Chief Engineer for a number of years, he came ashore into the position of Marine Superintendent with Texaco Overseas Tankship in 1981. During this period he became particularly interested in the changes of the quality of marine fuels, brought about by more intense refinery techniques, and became involved with related technical issues in the maintenance and repair of the Texaco fleet. In 1984, he moved into consultancy, providing expert services to shipowners, and insurers, mainly in the field of liquid cargo losses and contaminations. He teamed up with Stephen Hodge, a chemist, and they wrote Fisher & Hodge on Bunkers. This was the first technical book devoted to the subject.
In 1987, Chris joined Det Norske Veritas Petroleum Services (DNVPS), which had pioneered routine marine fuel quality testing for ship owners. In 1990, Chris moved with his family to The Netherlands, where he set up a new fuel testing laboratory in Rotterdam for DNVPS. In 1994, he joined up with Jonathan Lux (Ince & Co) and they produced “Bunkers – analysis of the legal and technical issues”.
Following his interest in laboratories and all aspects of liquid cargo loss control, he joined the Inspectorate group of companies in 1995, as Director of their Northern European companies in The Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. He quickly established a new dimension to Inspectorate – Bunker Claims – which focused on providing laboratory and technical services to those involved with bunker disputes. Between 1995 and 2003, he attended many arbitrations and court hearings as a technical expert.
In 2003, Chris decided to end his period in the inspection business and he and his family returned to England where he established his own company, Bunker Claims International Ltd, once again providing expert opinion in court and arbitration hearings on bunker matters. He also visits ships to investigate engine damages and bunker problems. Chris enjoys teaching and spends as much time as he can giving lectures and running training course workshops. He is a fellow of INMAREST and past Chairman of the International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA). With Robin Meech as co-author he wrote a new book in 2013 Bunkers – Technical and Environmental issues.
In 2011, Bunker Claims International was taken over by Brookes Bell and Chris now provides marine fuel consultancy services to customers of Brookes Bell.
Who should attend?
Types of Company: National Oil Companies • Independent Suppliers • Bunker Traders • Brokers • Barge Operators • Shipowners • Major Oil Companies • Shipping Agents • Law Firms • Testing Agencies • Lubricant Suppliers • Refiners • Charterers • Fuel Distributors • Storage Companies • Ship Managers • Storage & Blending
The course price includes a course manual with all presentations and exercise materials, light lunch, morning and afternoon refreshments. On completion of the course, delegates will receive a course completion certificate.
DAY ONE: MONDAY 24 JUNE 2019 | ||
---|---|---|
09:00 |
Who’s Who – Introductions and Agenda |
|
09:15 |
Fuel specifications 2005 to date |
|
10:00 | Environmental Regulations – Marpol Annex VI and regional regulations | |
10:30 | ![]() |
|
10:45 | Quantity determination, sampling and documentation | |
11:15 | Labs, test methods, precision and interpretation of results | |
11:45 | Quality characteristics and their importance to end users and treatment onboard ship | |
12:15 | Dealing with quantity disputes | |
12:30 | ![]() |
|
13:15 | Usual types of claims and group work on fuel quality evaluation | |
14:00 | Handling claims and decision making, including issues on de-bunkering | |
15:00 | ![]() |
|
15:15 | Terms and conditions of sale | |
15:45 | 2020: Types of fuels and supplier/end user risks | |
16:30 | Investigative testing and unusual contaminants (Contamination problem 2018) | |
17:00 | End of Course |