Bunker Delivery Note (BDN): what it is and what it must contain
The BDN is the legal record of every fuel delivery to a ship. MARPOL Annex VI Regulation 18 makes it mandatory for fuel delivered for combustion, and port state control inspects it routinely.
What the BDN must contain
MARPOL Annex VI Appendix V lists the minimum fields: name and IMO number of the receiving ship, port, date of commencement of delivery, name/address/telephone of the supplier, product name(s), quantity in metric tonnes, density at 15 °C (ISO 3675) and sulphur content in %m/m (ISO 8754).
It also carries a declaration signed by the supplier’s representative that the fuel conforms with Regulation 14 (sulphur limits) and Regulation 18.3 (fuel quality). A BDN missing any of these fields is a deficiency a PSC officer can act on.
Retention and the MARPOL sample
The BDN stays on board for three years from the date of delivery. Alongside it, the representative "MARPOL sample" sealed at delivery is retained until the fuel is substantially consumed, and in any case for at least 12 months.
In a sulphur or quality dispute the sealed sample — not the supplier’s own tank sample — is the evidence that counts, which is why the seal numbers recorded on the BDN matter.
eBDN — the digital BDN
Singapore became the first port to mandate digital bunkering: from 1 April 2025 licensed suppliers issue eBDNs. IMO guidelines accept electronic BDNs as equivalent when integrity and authenticity are protected.
The practical gains reported are faster turnaround (no paper chase at completion), harder-to-alter quantity figures and cleaner data for MRV/DCS reporting — a direction other hubs are watching closely.
Quantity disputes
Short-delivery claims typically stand or fall on soundings taken on the barge and receiving ship before and after delivery, corrected for temperature and trim, plus a timely letter of protest. The BDN quantity is the supplier’s figure — the ship’s own figures and the protest letter are what keep a claim alive.
The data behind these rules, handled for you.
BunkerIstanbul prepares EU MRV, IMO DCS, CII, EU ETS and FuelEU figures from the noon reports and BDNs your crew already logs — alongside competing bunker quotes from verified suppliers. Free for shipowners.
Frequently asked questions
Who issues the BDN?
The fuel supplier (or its barge operator) issues it and signs the conformity declaration; the ship’s representative countersigns receipt. The obligation to carry a compliant BDN sits with the ship.
Is an electronic BDN legally valid?
Yes, where the flag and port accept it and integrity/authenticity are protected — Singapore already mandates it for its licensed suppliers. Paper remains valid elsewhere.
What happens if the sulphur on the BDN turns out wrong?
The sealed MARPOL sample is tested. If it exceeds the limit, the BDN’s declaration and the ship’s fuel changeover documentation are what the ship falls back on toward PSC.