The UK P&I Club says they have been made aware of an issue with contaminated fuel in Houston, Texas, during the period of March-May 2023. VPS confirmed they found the presence of DCPD at high levels in VLSFO bunker fuel deliveries in the area.
In particular, as Ship & Bunker informs, VPS detected Dicycopdentadience (DCPD) and associated isomers at ‘significantly high levels in VLSFO bunker fuel deliveries in Houston’. VPS global marine advisory firm has issued a related Bunker Alert informing that these deliveries conducted by a single supplier from March to May 2023 while eleven vessels using this fuels have reported loss of power. In a previous advisory, the Skuld Club provided advice on how to prevent the damage of the main engine, auxiliary engine and boiler plant caused by fuel oil contaminated by chemicals such as cleaning solvents.
The UK Club also includes an update on the issue, informing they are currently investigating further this matter. ”If Members have any queries regarding this issue they can get in touch with their usual Club contact.” the Club stressed.
Overall, since late May 2018, there have been an increased number of reports on serious technical problems and mechanical damages encountered by more than one hundred ships due to contaminated fuel oils that were delivered to them. Recently, the International Council on Combustion Engines (CIMAC) published a research paper investigating the High Sulphur Fuel Oil contamination crisis in Singapore.
