Short-delivered bunkerings - Can a buyer take any precautionary actions to minimizing the risk of a quantity discrepancy when buying bunker fuel in Singapore?

Abstract

The bunker market in Singapore is currently influenced by a small pool of dishonest suppliers and barge operators. This is causing problems for bunker buyers worldwide due to not delivering the full quantity of stemmed bunker but later charging for it. This is creating additional costs for shipping companies and distrust between the actors on the Singaporean market. The purpose with this thesis was to identify if there are any precautionary actions a bunker buyer can take to minimise the risk of getting a short deliver while taking bunker fuel in Singapore. The study will comprise the identification of the problem, possible strategies and if the strategies are working in a satisfactorily manner. The method chosen to evaluate the problem was a case study based on secondary data from articles and books and primary data from semi-structured interviews. The selected respondents are from different parts of the business and have extensive knowledge of the market. From the results of the study, a conclusion can be made that there are no foolproof ways to prevent a short delivery. The identified strategies needs a closer collaboration and the market needs be more transparent.