Question 1

What is fuel sounding and why is it important?

Accepted Answer

Fuel sounding is the measurement of fuel level in a ship's tank using a sounding tape or ullage measurement. It's crucial for accurate fuel inventory management, bunker delivery verification, and voyage planning. Proper sounding ensures you know exactly how much fuel is onboard.

Question 2

What is VCF (Volume Correction Factor)?

Accepted Answer

VCF (Volume Correction Factor) is used to correct fuel volume for temperature variations. Fuel expands when hot and contracts when cold. VCF converts the measured volume at actual temperature to the standard reference temperature (usually 15°C), ensuring accurate quantity calculations.

Question 3

How do I use the sounding table?

Accepted Answer

Measure the fuel level (sounding) in the tank, then refer to your vessel's sounding table which shows the corresponding volume for that sounding depth. The calculator can interpolate between table values for precise measurements. Always use the correct tank's sounding table.

Question 4

What fuel types are supported?

Accepted Answer

The calculator supports all common marine fuels: HFO (Heavy Fuel Oil), MDO (Marine Diesel Oil), MGO (Marine Gas Oil), and LSMGO (Low Sulphur Marine Gas Oil). Each fuel type has different density and temperature correction characteristics.

Question 5

Why is temperature correction necessary?

Accepted Answer

Temperature significantly affects fuel volume. A tank measured at 40°C will show more volume than the same mass of fuel at 15°C. Temperature correction ensures you're measuring the actual mass of fuel, not just the volume, which is critical for accurate bunker calculations and avoiding disputes.