Tag: HFO

DNV GL issued a technical update to publication “Sulphur Limits 2015” regarding the introduction of new “hybrid” fuel types, which may not be fully compatible with ordinary heavy fuel oils, can pose potential technical challenges in operation in connection with the changeover. For ships passing through or operating in Emission Control Areas (ECAs), new and stricter emission regulations came into force on 1 January 2015. As regulated by MARPOL Annex VI, the maximum sulphur content of any fuel used on board may not exceed 0.10% m/m S when sailing or operating in an ECA designated for control of SOx emissions from ships. Alternatively, the installation of exhaust gas cleaning systems, proven to be least effective in terms of emission reductions, is seen as an equivalent measure. However, switching from heavy fuel oil (HFO) to low-sulphur fuel is likely to pose challenges. If not handled with care, the changeover process can cause operational problems in the ship’s propulsion chain and put equipment at risk. The DNV GL publication “Sulphur Limits 2015 – Guidelines to ensure Compliance”, issued in November 2014, provides an overview of the regulatory background and describes potential difficulties associated with fuel changeover. DNV GL has also developed and made available ...

  Germany's Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union (NABU) announced the results of a study it says shows that "scrubbers are no solution to air pollution from ships." The recent tightening of the fuel sulphur limits for fuel used in Sulphur Emission Control Areas (SECAs) requires the use of fuels with a maximum sulphur content of 0.1% in these regions, or a technology that can reduce emissions to an equivalent level, from January, 1st 2015. Most low sulphur fuels are distillates (e.g. marine gasoil MGO, which are more expensive than the residual fuels that are traditionally used by ships (e.g. heavy fuel oil HFO)). Exhaust gas scrubbers, in combination with the use of HFO, have been accepted as an alternative means to lower sulphur emissions. Four different types of scrubbers are available today: Seawater scrubbers (open loop) utilize untreated seawater, using the natural alkalinity of the seawater to neutralize the sulphur from exhaust gases. Freshwater scrubbers (closed loop) are not dependent on the type of the water the vessel is operating in, because the exhaust gases are neutralized with caustic soda, which is added to freshwater in a closed system. Hybrid scrubbers give the possibility to either use closed loop or ...

  From 1 January 2015, MARPOL Annex VI Regulation 14.4 entered into full effect. This regulation refers to new and stricter requirements on the maximum sulphur content of fuels used by cargo vessels in Emission Control Areas (ECA). More precisely, in the ECA it is not permitted to use fuel which contains a sulphur percentage over 0.1%. The only fuel type that currently offers such a low sulphur percentage is Marine Gas Oil (MGO) whereas most vessels normally use the somewhat cheaper Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO).  In order to comply with the new sulphur emission regulations, Clipper decided to convert one HFO tank on six of our 30,000 dwt Trader-type bulk carriers into MGO tanks. The conversion reduces unnecessary costs of frequent bunker operations and delays. Simultaneously, it makes the vessels more sustainable and environmentally friendly, and thereby compliant with current legislation. As an extra benefit, the physical separation of piping makes it very unlikely to mix the two fuel grades by mistake. One of the converted vessels is Clipper Tarpon. Before the conversion, her MGO tank capacity was 143.4 m3. After the conversion she could contain an impressive 564.4 m3. This improvement allows the vessel to sail for a ...

ExxonMobil is expanding its range of specialist fuels for use within Emission Control Areas (ECA) with the introduction of ExxonMobil Premium Advanced Fuel Marine ECA 200 (AFME 200). ExxonMobil Premium AFME 200 joins ExxonMobil Premium HDME 50 as part of a new category of marine fuel that has emerged as a result of the 2015 ECA sulphur limit of 0.10 percent. These low sulphur fuels help engineers safely and efficiently operate their main and auxiliary engines and boilers. ExxonMobil Premium AFME 200 is an advanced fuel oil formulated using a proprietary refining process that removes sulphur, metals and other contaminants. This enables the fuel to comply with the ECA sulphur cap and also helps to optimise the performance of engines and extend component life. The viscosity of ExxonMobil Premium AFME 200 is comparable to heavy fuel oils (HFOs) enabling similar storage and handling practices for both fuels on board marine vessels. Both fuels require preheating, therefore reducing the risk of thermal shock to engine components during switchovers to comply with the ECA sulphur cap. Thermal shock may result in fuel pump seizures and engine shutdowns and has the potential to occur when switching from heated HFO to marine gas oil ...

Wärtsilä and Clean Marine Energy announced the landmark signing of the shipping industry’s first collaboration agreement that will provide a convenient funding solution to drive the uptake of exhaust gas cleaning technology. The move is intended to ease the financial burden on ship owners seeking to install scrubber systems in order to meet sulphur emissions legislation. The financing solution, similar to those prevalent and proven in the building environment space, enables a ship owner to repay the cost of the scrubber system installation via a fuel adder, i.e. a fuel premium on the price of HFO by which the ship owner repays the cost of installing the scrubber. This provides a return from the differential between Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) and Marine Gasoil (MGO) for a period of four to six years, depending on price spreads. This means that ship owners do not have the burden of meeting the up-front capital expenditure, which is typically between USD 3 million and USD 12 million per vessel. This investment is often difficult to pass on to charterers, whereas with CME financing, the fuel adder charge can be easily passed on until such time as the scrubber system is paid for. The concept ...

ExxonMobil Marine Fuels & Lubricants has expanded the availability of its Marine Gas Oil (MGO) to include the key port of Le Havre, France. This expansion is part of the company’s offer to help vessel operators meet the Emissions Control Area (ECA) 0.10 percent sulphur limit, which came into force on 1st Jan. 2015. ExxonMobil is the first supplier to make MGO available to vessel operators in Le Havre via dedicated barge delivery. This provides faster, more efficient refueling, when compared with truck deliveries, and ensures that the required fuel volumes are available for vessels with small and big stem sizes, starting from 40mt. “We have increased the availability of MGO to help marine operators comply with the new ECA legislation,” said Luca Volta, general manager EAME, ExxonMobil Marine Fuels and Lubricants. “In addition, by offering MGO at Le Havre via barge delivery, marine operators will benefit from a faster and more efficient fuel delivery process. “ExxonMobil now supplies MGO at more than 40 ports worldwide, providing marine operators with our expertise, products and services on a Global level.” The expansion of MGO availability follows the recent launch of ExxonMobil Premium HDME 50, a new category of marine fuel that ...

Responding to adoption by the International Maritime Organisation of the long-awaited Polar Code, aimed at regulating shipping in Polar Regions, a coalition of environmental groups criticized the measures for not going far enough to adequately protect the fragile Arctic and Antarctic environments. While the new code is a positive step forward- for the first time there will be mandatory rules for management of shipping in Arctic and Antarctic polar waters – it is insufficient to properly protect Polar environments from the increased levels of shipping activity that are anticipated as sea ice recedes in the face of global warming. In Arctic waters, the Polar Code fails to address the need to phase out the use of heavy fuel oil (HFO); an HFO spill has been identified as the highest risk posed by shipping. HFO was previously already banned in Antarctica for this reason. The Code will contain regulations requiring that ship operators limit entry into ice according to the ability of their ship to resist ice pressure, but major concerns remain due to the fact that non-ice strengthened ships will still be allowed to operate in ice covered waters. Of further concern is the impact of shipping on wildlife. While ...

The American P&I Club has issued circular No 8/14 regarding condition survey requirement for tankers carrying Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) as cargo.

American P&I Club issues Circular No 27/13 re Condition Survey Requirement for Tankers Carrying HFO as Cargo

Condition Surveys for Tankers Carrying HFO as Cargo