Bunker Delivery Note (BDN)

According to Regulation 18 of Annex VI of the MARPOL Convention, all ships with a gross tonnage of 400 and more that receive consumable fuel (for burning in internal combustion engines) must take a document called "Bunker Delivery Note" and keep it onboard for at least 3 years. Also, for FSU and FPSU type vessels, regardless of their gross tonnage, receiving and keeping BDN is mandatory.

Based on the IMO approved exceptions, some fuel types, including solid coal, nuclear fuels, LNG, CNG and LPG, there is no need to receive and keep this document.

Further, a standard sample of the received fuels (it should be sampled according to IMO instructions) must be kept onboard, same as BDN.

The BDN minimum required data is described in detail in Appendix V of Annex VI of MARPOL.

Based on the latest IMO verified topics, the flash point value of the fuels should be inserted in the BDN, too. Currently, this topic is under consideration, in the MEPC and regarding its approval at the previous MEPC session (MEPC 78), it seems that at the 79th session (December 2022), the new format of BDN will be adopted.

It should be noted that the meaning of flash point (Closed Cup Flash point) which mentioned here is the temperature that is obtained by the methods listed in the ISO 2719. This value must be measured by laboratories that meet the requirements of ISO 17025 or equivalent standards.

We at Marine Center will inform our readers as soon as the new format of this document is adopted and circulated.

The following is the data that must be included in the BDN at the time of writing this article:

1. Name and IMO Number of receiving ship
2. Port
3. Date of commencement of delivery
4. Name, address and telephone number of marine fuel oil supplier
5. Product name(s)
6. Quantity in metric tons
7. Density at 15°C (kg/m3)
8. Sulphur content (% m/m)

A declaration signed and certified by the fuel oil supplier's representative that the fuel oil supplied is in conformity with regulation 18.3 of this Annex and that the Sulphur content of the fuel oil supplied does not exceed:

1. the limit value given by regulation 14.1 of this Annex;
2. the limit value given by regulation 14.4 of this Annex; or
3. the purchaser's specified limit value of _____ (% m/m), as completed by the fuel oil supplier's representative and on the basis of the purchaser's notification that the fuel oil:
4. Is intended to be used in combination with an equivalent means of compliance in accordance with regulation 4 of this Annex; or

Is subject to a relevant exemption for a ship to conduct trials for Sulphur oxides emission reduction and control technology research in accordance with regulation 3.2 of this Annex.