Bunker (Fuel/Oil) Consumption Plan in vessel chartering is the calculated forecast of how much fuel (HFO/VLSFO, MGO/MDO, etc.) the vessel is expected to burn on a specific voyage or period. It is also called a voyage fuel plan or bunker planning schedule.
It is used for:
- Voyage estimates and TCE (Time Charter Equivalent) calculations
- Deciding bunker quantities, grades, and bunkering ports (with safety margin)
- Monitoring actual performance against the vessel’s speed-and-consumption warranty in the charter party (“about X knots on about Y mt/day”)
Typical contents of the plan
- Sea consumption (laden and ballast) at planned speed(s)
- Port, idle, manoeuvring, loading and discharging consumption
- Adjustments for weather, currents, hull condition, draft, ECA zones, scrubber use, etc.
- Total expected consumption + reserves
- Often a leg-by-leg or day-by-day breakdown for the Master, Chief Engineer and commercial operators
Who pays for the bunkers (fuel)?
| Charter Type | Who pays for bunkers (fuel)? | Other key cost responsibilities |
|---|---|---|
| Voyage Charter | Shipowner | Owner pays all voyage costs (bunkers, port charges, canal dues, etc.). Charterer pays freight (and demurrage if incurred). |
| Time Charter | Charterer | Charterer pays hire + bunkers + port charges + canal dues. Owner pays crew wages, maintenance, insurance and stores. |
| Bareboat / Demise Charter | Charterer | Charterer pays almost everything (bunkers, crew, maintenance, insurance, port costs). Owner essentially only provides the vessel. |
Practical impact
- In time charters, the consumption plan is commercially critical for the charterer because they bear the fuel cost. Any excess consumption beyond the warranted figures can lead to claims against the owner. Under-consumption may also be adjusted.
- In voyage charters, the owner uses the consumption plan to price the freight accurately, since fuel is their expense.
- The plan also supports bunker stem ordering and ensures the vessel always has sufficient fuel with a prudent safety margin.
In short, the consumption plan is both an operational tool (how much fuel will be needed) and a commercial tool (who bears the cost and how performance is measured).
