Tag: fuel quality

Following the very serious issues with contaminated fuel faced by ship owners in the US Gulf, 'there has been no meaningful resolution', as more than 100 vessel seem to have been affected, IBIA noted. In a bid to create the necessary momentum to resolve this issue, IBIA considered the issues.

Six samples of ship fuel in Singapore had caused severe sludging at centrifuges, clogged pipelines, and overwhelmed fuel filters. The first problem sample in Asia was found on April 13 in Port Kelang in Malaysia. Now, because shippers want to avoid loading up the contaminated fuel Singapore, UAE inquiries at the Fujairah oil hub for marine fuel have increased.

Contamination in marine fuel that clogs and damages ship engines has been found in Singapore, with marine fuel surveyor and consulting firm Maritec Pte sending an alert to clients to warn them about the situation. Namely, six samples of ship fuel in Singapore had caused severe sludging at centrifuges, clogged pipelines,and overwhelmed fuel filters.

A significant number of ships have experienced serious operational problems, such as chiefly sticking fuel pumps and in some cases filter blockages, after lifting bunker fuels from the US Gulf since late March and during April-May. Commenting on the situation, IBIA said that these fuels possibly contravene MARPOL Annex VI. 

On 26th April 2018, Veritas Petroleum Services issued a Bunker Alert informing about a fuel contamination problem at the Port of Houston, which included sticking of fuel plungers, fuel-pump seizures and failures affecting multiple vessels. A situation that was also confirmed by FOBAS. Now, the UK Club informs that this problem has expanded to Panama as well.

In its Marine Safety Alert 10-18, USCG seeks to raise awareness of a significant emerging problem in the US Gulf Coast region regarding contaminated vessel fuel oil bunkers and the use of blended fuel oil such as Intermediate Fuel Oil (IFO 380). These fuels are causing problematic fuel pump plungers, fuel pump seizures and other fuel system related failures.

FOBAS issued an update regarding the fuel contamination reported at Port of Houston. Namely, the problem concerned sticking of fuel plungers, fuel-pump seizures and failures affecting multiple vessels when burning fuel oil bunkered in Houston, Texas. FOBAS said that after conducting analysis, it found similarities in the results.

On 26th April 2018, Veritas Petroleum Services issued a Bunker Alert informing about sticking of fuel plungers, fuel-pump seizures and failures affecting multiple vessels when burning fuel oil bunkered in Houston, Texas. However, in a recent update, VPS said that the problem has been increased.

IMO released a circular called: "Guidance on best practice for fuel oil purchasers/users for assuring the quality of fuel oil used on board ships." This notice aims to help fuel oil purchasers/users ensure the quality of fuel oil delivered to, and used on board ships, with respect to the MARPOL requirements and the efficient operation of the ship.

The clock is ticking for the 0.5%sulphur cap and although this measure is about to become effective globally in two years from now, the route to compliance remains foggy. SAFETY4SEA seeks to collect essential data reflecting trends with respect to industry’s readiness to comply with the 0.5% sulphur cap.