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.
After conducing testing, FOBAS said that the fuels in question contain certain fatty acids which should not be present in marine fuels and have been linked to sticking and damaged fuel pump components in the past.
[smlsubform prepend=”GET THE SAFETY4SEA IN YOUR INBOX!” showname=false emailtxt=”” emailholder=”Enter your email address” showsubmit=true submittxt=”Submit” jsthanks=false thankyou=”Thank you for subscribing to our mailing list”]
These compounds are violating the Clause 5 of ISO 8217 which states that “The fuel should not include any added substance or chemical wastefuel which jeopardizes the safety or adversely affects the performance of the machinery; or is harmful to personnel; or contributes overall to additional air pollution.”
Many of the suspect fuel samples are undergoing extended analysis. Initial findings show that there are similarities in the results so far available. Analysis on suspect fuels revealed various long chain fatty acids which are non-petroleum species that have been linked with operational issues with the fuel injection system components and the filters.
The source of these fatty acids is under investigation along with other compounds identified in the suspect fuel. A range of other compounds such as phenols and diols have also been identified in most of the suspect fuels.
FOBAS said:
In the past, we have identified certain diols and phenols present in problematic fuels, so there seems to be a link between their presence and operational problems, specifically relating to sticking and damage of fuel pumps.
FOBAS concluded by saying that no material should be present in the fuel at a concentration that is harmful to personnel, jeopardizes the safety of the ship, or adversely affects the performance of the machinery.
