Bunker vessels in the ports of Antwerp-Bruges and Rotterdam will be required to adopt a bunker measurement system from 1 January 2026.
Furthermore, bunker vessels in the two ports must also have a validated system that shows the exact amount of fuel they are delivering to seagoing vessels.
This is the result of an independent study conducted in Antwerp, Zeebrugge, and Rotterdam, which highlighted recurring quantity issues in the bunker sector.
According to a statement, the port authorities hope that this step will make the bunker market in Antwerp, Zeebrugge, and Rotterdam more transparent, efficient, and trustworthy.
The system’s implementation had to be carefully tested in light of the varying legislative frameworks in Belgium and the Netherlands.
A bunker measurement system is now installed on 40 of 170 bunker vessels in Rotterdam, Antwerp, and Zeebrugge. As a result, port authorities are aware that this policy will have a significant influence on the bunker market.
By setting the commencement date for 1 January 2026, the various firms in the bunker chain will have enough time to react to the new measure.
Moreover, this future requirement was already included in bunker vessel permits at the port of Antwerp-Bruges. In Rotterdam, the permission for bunker transporters has yet to be modified. The two ports will provide an update during the ARACON trade conference, which will take place on 19 and 20 October.
