MPA Singapore is investigating the suspected contamination of bunker fuel supplied to several ships in the port and has ordered supply of the batch to stop.
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.
At least 14 ships that received tainted high-sulphur fuel oil (HSFO) from Singapore suffered loss of power and engine problems, fuel and oil testing firm Veritas Petroleum Services (VPS) said late last week.
MPA Singapore has now contacted bunker suppliers to stop supplying the relevant batch of fuel, and to inform all ships supplied with the fuel to exercise caution when using it, according to an emailed statement late on Sunday.
As a major bunkering hub, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) takes quality assurance seriously and is investigating the cause of the alleged bunker fuel contamination. Further investigations are currently on-going. MPA will not hesitate to take action should there be any non-compliance
Furthermore, Reuters cites information from Simon Neo, head of marine fuels consultancy SDE International Pte Ltd, saying that it was possible that contamination took place in the blending process.
