Design issues with bunkering connections often need to be thoroughly thought out. Bunker connections are frequently positioned in tight spaces, making it difficult to connect the hose. Once connected, the connecting flanges can often come under much stress due to poor alignment, making a tight seal difficult to achieve.
CHIRP requests owners reconsider their bunkering design and, during the next drydock or lay-up period, consider changing the pipework to ensure connections are positioned to allow better alignment and a tighter seal to prevent leakages while bunkering.
Persistent leakages when bunkering are unacceptable and indicate a normalisation of deviance, where this practice is accepted as the new norm.
