Tag: contaminated fuel

As the quality of bunker fuel continues to be a source of concern to shipowners and charterers, the UK Defence Club has published a guide with important procedures that should be adopted in order to reduce the chances of fuel-related engine damage. 

The American Club & Eagle Ocean Marine recently hosted in Piraeus a Loss Prevention & Claims seminar which looked at both the technical and legal aspects of bunker contamination claims, explains Andrew Dyer, Regional Claims Director EMEA - SVP, The American P&I Club & Global Claims Eagle Ocean Marine.

After consideration of the lack of regulatory framework within the bunker industry to control the supply of fuels intended for other purposes, IMO’s MSC committee at its 106th meeting proposed amendments that are expected to enter into effect on 01 January 2026.

VPS informs that two vessels had received contaminated fuel in Singapore, other than the twelve in Houston, raising the number to fourteen vessels in total. 

FuelTrust's new report finds that in the past year, over 600 vessels were disabled through fuel problems, despite the fuel being ‘on-spec’, resulting in estimated global supply chain losses exceeding $5 billion.

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.

Walla Walla, the Washington State Ferries vessel that was grounded on April 15th, is now back in service after investigations found the cause and measures were taken. 

The International Council on Combustion Engines (CIMAC) published a research paper investigating the High Sulphur Fuel Oil contamination crisis in Singapore. In its publication, CIMAC Working Group Fuels (WG7) notes that although the fuels in question met the requirements of ISO 8217, some ships reported operational problems with engines.

As Ansuman Ghosh, Director of Risk Assessment, UK P&I Club, informs, bunker fuel analysis indicates more cases of contaminated bunker fuel in the Rotterdam and Amsterdam areas (ARA), suggesting that the problem persists.

Recently MARITEC has investigated 5 VLSFO samples that were bunkered in the US-Gulf region between June to July 2022, as well as several VLSFOs delivered in the ARA Region, finding contamination issues.