Brazilian Proinde P&I Club informed about Brazil’s availability on low sulphur fuel, as Petrobras ensured its production is more than enough to supply domestic market.
Specifically, it’s reported that Petrobras’ production capacity and logistics are more than enough to supply the domestic market, as in February the company set a record of bunker fuel and fuel oil exports, shipping some 238,000 barrels per day, comprising over 1 million metric tons in just a month.
In addition, oil exports remain high, with more than 690,000 b/d exported last month amid international trade challenges such as the COVID-19 outbreak in Asia, Brazil’s leading buying marketplace for oil and oil products and a key hub for global shippers and sea carriers.
The Brazilian ports with availability of compliant low sulphur bunkers by barge are:
- Rio Grande
- Paranaguá
- Santos
- Rio de Janeiro
- Vitória
- Salvador
- Belém
Additional ports with availability are:
- São Sebastião
- Angra dos Reis,
- Fortaleza
- São Luís (Itaqui)
- Manaus.
For the time being, the Brazilian Maritime Authority accepts the use of scrubbers, as the alternative way of complying with the IMO 2020 sulphur cap. Yet, the Standard Clubs notes that there is not much information on whether there is any restriction or prohibition to discharge wash water from open-loop scrubbers within Brazilian waters and, if so, what is the distance from the nearest land point where discharge is allowed.
It is recommended that until the relevant authority clarifies this issue, vessels calling at Brazilian ports are advised to switch to a closed-loop, if equipped with a hybrid scrubber, or use IMO 2020-compliant fuel while entering in national waters.
