Marine fuel testing company VPS highlighted recent findings regarding contaminated bunkers delivered to vessels in the port of Singapore.
Namely, on 11 March 2022, a VPS Bunker Alert informed about chlorinated hydrocarbons being found and identified in Heavy Fuel Oil (HSFO) deliveries recently made in Singapore.
Over the course of February-March 2022, VPS identified 34 vessels which received HSFO deliveries from two Singapore suppliers, which were contaminated with up to 2,000 ppm of chlorinated hydrocarbons.
These bunker fuel contaminations have affected 14 vessels so far and the impact has led to failure of the fuel system to the auxiliary engine, causing loss of power and propulsion creating a blackout.
More specifically, fuel system failure took place due to seizure of the fuel pumps and plunger and barrel corrosion, caused by the bunker fuel contaminants. It is worth noting the HSFO fuel actually met the ISO8217 specifications upon each delivery.
The cause of the recent Singapore fuel quality issue is because of different chemical contaminants to that which VPS identified back in 2018, as the cause of the Houston fuel issue.
However, the number of cases identified at this time in Singapore, is at a higher level over the first six weeks in comparison to the number identified in Houston over a similar time period.
The associated problems due to this latest fuel contamination regarding, asset and vessel protection, crew health & safety and potential environmental-related issues, can and will, have significant impact upon ship operators, in terms of costly damages and repairs, voyage delays and time-consuming claims, all drawing on their resources
VPS stated.
