• Journal of Advanced Marine Engineering and Technology
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• v.40 no.9
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• pp.859-867
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• 2016

Bunker oil is an essential expense, and it is a high cost in ships' operations. Therefore, it forms an important part of the work shipowners do to minimize losses during operations. With bunkering disputes consistently occurring, bunker surveyors could be employed by shipowners through them and bunker survey companies signing a contract for a bunker surveyor service. Bunker surveyors could play the role of independent contractors and issue statements of fact in relation to bunkering. However, it would be impossible for bunker surveyors to immediately resolve a bunkering dispute since their role and the legal status is not clear while bunker surveys are being conducted on ships. Thus, this study sets out to define the legal status and liability of bunker surveyors and to seek an additional role for them when bunkering disputes occur.