After the discovery of contaminated HSFO in Singapore, IBIA asked from its members for help, in order to track the spread of the contamination.
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.
Immediately, MPA Singapore started investigating the suspected contamination of bunker fuels supplied to several ships in the port and had ordered the supply of the batch to stop.
According to the investigation, Glencore, a commodity trading and mining company, was the supplier of contaminated HFSO in Singapore, causing engine problems to several vessels.
Now, IBIA noted that:
IBIA calls for relevant stakeholders to report which ports where ships have, or will, debunker HSFO contaminated with chlorides, and to report to us if you have any reason to believe cargoes containing chloride contaminated HSFO is headed for specific ports
This could help identify high risk areas, says IBIA, applying extra measures like extra testing to ensure that contaminated bunkers do not cause further damage to ships.
What is more, IBIA recommended a wider use of Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), as well as advanced methods to test HSFO.
