Bunker
Also known as: bunker fuel, marine fuel, ship fuel, vessel fuel, bunkers
Bunker refers to the fuel carried or supplied to a vessel for operating its main engines, auxiliary engines, boilers, and other onboard machinery. Common bunker fuels include Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (VLSFO), Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO), Marine Gas Oil (MGO), and Marine Diesel Oil (MDO). In everyday shipping usage, the word can refer both to the fuel itself and, historically, to the spaces where a ship's fuel was stored.
The term originates from coal bunkers used on steamships. Today it refers to liquid fuels consumed during vessel operations. Bunker fuel is one of the largest operating costs for most commercial vessels, so its price, quality, and consumption have a major effect on voyage economics. The vessel must receive the correct quantity and specification of fuel because poor-quality or contaminated bunkers can damage machinery or disrupt operations. Bunker selection and consumption also affect a vessel's compliance with international air-emission and fuel-sulphur requirements.
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