Tag: fuel quality

Crude oil exports from the Russian Port of Ust-Luga have been hindered over the last weeks, because of the contamination problem in Russia's Druzhba pipeline network. This network carries around one million barrels per day into European markets. Only this week the Portresumed to loading uncontaminated cargoes.

In light of the 2020 sulphur cap, the frequency of PSC taking spot samples of a ship’s fuel oil to verify its sulphur content is expected to increase significantly after 1 January 2020 and shipowners should prepare their ships and crew accordingly. 

The previous week FOBAS tested a number of fuels from Fujairah that contained elevated acid number (TAN). The tested TAN values were all well above the average for the port (0.12mgKOH/g). Therefore, FOBAS alerts that any such contaminants even at low levels contravenes the stipulations of Revised MARPOL Annex VI regulation 18.3 and International Marine Fuel Standard ISO 8217, Clause 5.

Lloyd’s Register witnessed a process demonstration, in which the exploration and drilling company Genoil used a hydroconversion upgrader to convert high sulphur heavy fuel oil into IMO 2020-compliant marine fuel. During the desulphurisation process, the sulphur content of an HSFO was reduced from 1.72% to 0.38%.

On March 27 Toyota Tsusho Petroleum filed a complaint against Nustar Energy Services at a US Court. The file regarded alleged off-spec bunkers, and TTP seeks $421,784.94 from NES through two claims. Namely, on April 19, 2018, NES supplied 840 metric tonnes (mt) of IFO 380 to the Singapore-flagged chemical tanker 'M/V Beatrice' at the Port of Houston.

The Lloyd’s Register Fuel Oil Bunkering Analysis and Advisory Service (FOBAS) released an alert on 14 March, in which it warned all shipowners and operators regarding low flash point residual fuels at Singapore. The tested flash points were below the 60°C SOLAS minimum limit, with the results varying between 55 and 58 °C.

Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) is considered as an alternative fuel for shipping and a technically feasible option for compliance with the MARPOL annex VI revised requirements of 2020. Nowadays more than 200 LNG powered carriers operate worldwide, while there are also several LNG carriers with dual mode engines which can operate with both fuel oil and LNG.

Singapore is one of the top bunkering ports in the world, providing high quality services which meet the requirements of the large number of vessels it serves daily; however, there are some challenging issues that operators should be aware of when it comes to bunkering, derived from frequent incidents which occurred in the past.

With new, stricter regulations coming into force regarding fuels’ sulphur content, the quality of bunkers delivered to ships is of high importance; they need to meet the agreed purchase specifications and applicable global and local regulations. Nevertheless, there are cases in which ‘bad bunkers’ are delivered, which may lead to damages to ship engines, disputes between owners and charterers, even detentions and fines.

A General cargo ship "M" was involved in cargo operations in an Indonesian port. Charterers had arranged the vessel to receive bunkers by a local bunker barge. The barge moored alongside of the vessel for supplying the agreed amount of 155M/T of fuel oil (180cst) into No.1 & 2 F.O. tanks respectively.