API MPMS Chapter 17.1

Encourages uniform inspection practices for marine petroleum cargo quantity and quality control. These guidelines specify the policy and minimum recommended practices for manual and automatic measurement, sampling and accounting for bulk quantities of crude oil (including spiked, blended, and reconstituted crude oil) and petroleum products that are transferred from one port to another on marine vessels. Activities described include actions by producers, buyers, sellers, shore terminal operators, vessel owners and their crews, customs authorities, independent inspectors and other parties with an interest in oil measurement. Use also will simplify the making of agreements for transferring volumes of petroleum cargoes and will help ensure that the agreements can be clearly interpreted and executed between parties. Included in this text are the procedures for calculating vessel experience factors (VEF), as well as sample forms. (Available in Spanish, see description below.)