FOBAS: Off-spec bunker samples up 40% at global ports in 1H October
- Published
by Admin
The Lloyd’s Register Fuel Oil Bunkering Analysis and Advisory Service (FOBAS) recorded 102, or 39.7% higher, off-spec bunker samples from international ports during the period between 1 to 14 (1H) October, when compared to 73 cases found during 1H of September.
Singapore and Rotterdam port saw the most number of off-spec cases over a variety of issues during 1H October.
Several off-spec cases at Singapore were related to pour point; pour point cases at Singapore are “not a big issue” due to local weather conditions, a source earlier told Manifold Times.
The off-spec cases occurred when a result was outside the 95% confidence limit of either ISO 8217 6th edition test parameter or a value given by the BDN or sample label.
The top bunker ports with reported off-spec bunker fuel cases in 1H October are as follows:
| Port | Characteristic | ISO 8217 Limit or Advised Value |
Final result | Unit |
| Singapore | Density at 15°C | 0.9908** | 0.9943 | kg/l |
| Singapore | Density at 15°C | 0.9890** | 0.9964 | kg/l |
| Singapore | Pour point | 0* | 6 | °C |
| Singapore | Pour point | 0* | 6 | °C |
| Singapore | Pour point | 0* | 6 | °C |
| Singapore | Pour point | 0* | 9 | °C |
| Singapore | Pour point | 0* | 6 | °C |
| Singapore | Pour point | 0* | 6 | °C |
| Singapore | Pour point | 0* | 6 | °C |
| Singapore | Pour point | 0* | 6 | °C |
| Singapore | Pour point | 0* | 6 | °C |
| Singapore | Pour point | 0* | 6 | °C |
| Singapore | Sulphur | 0.09** | 0.12 | % Mass |
| Singapore | Water | 0.50* | 0.65 | % Volume |
| Singapore | Water | 0.50* | 1.30 | % Volume |
| Rotterdam | Pour point | 30* | 36 | °C |
| Rotterdam | Pour point | 30* | 36 | °C |
| Rotterdam | Sulphur | 0.09** | 0.13 | % Mass |
| Rotterdam | Sulphur | 0.09** | 0.12 | % Mass |
| Rotterdam | Viscosity at 40°C | 6.00** | 6.0 | cSt |
| Rotterdam | Viscosity at 50°C | 699.0** | 736.9 | cSt |
| Rotterdam | Viscosity at 50°C | 374.0** | 407.6 | cSt |
| Rotterdam | Viscosity at 50°C | 7.4** | 89.1 | cSt |
| Rotterdam | Viscosity at 50°C | 377.0** | 398.9 | cSt |
| Rotterdam | Viscosity at 50°C | 376.0** | 405.8 | cSt |
| Rotterdam | Viscosity at 50°C | 699.0** | 742.6 | cSt |
| Rotterdam | Viscosity at 50°C | 376.0** | 397.2 | cSt |
| Rotterdam | Viscosity at 50°C | 380.0** | 404.2 | cSt |
| Balboa | CCAI | 870* | 874 | Index |
| Balboa | Water | 0.50* | 1.10 | % Volume |
| Balboa | Water | 0.50* | 1.00 | % Volume |
| Balboa | Water | 0.50* | 1.00 | % Volume |
| Balboa | Water | 0.50* | 0.80 | % Volume |
| Balboa | Water | 0.50* | 1.10 | % Volume |
| Balboa | Water | 0.50* | 0.75 | % Volume |
| Balboa | Water | 0.50* | 1.00 | % Volume |
| Balboa | Water | 0.50* | 0.90 | % Volume |
*ISO 8217 6th edition limit
**Advised value from BDN or sample label
***Due to the statutory significance of Flash Point the 95% confidence limit is not applied
Earlier FOBAS reports on off-spec fuels and bunker alerts in 2019 have been organised in chronological order below:
Related: FOBAS: Rise in off-spec bunker samples at Malaysia ports during 1H September
Related: FOBAS: International bunker off-spec samples down 32% in 1H August
Related: FOBAS: Global off-spec bunker samples 63% up in 2H July
Related: FOBAS: International off-spec bunker cases down 6% in 1H July
Related: FOBAS: Update on contaminated fuels from St Petersburg, Russia
Related: FOBAS: High Aluminium + Silicon levels in fuels from Chennai
Related: FOBAS: 63 off-spec bunker cases identified in 2H June 2019
Related: FOBAS: International off-spec bunker cases up 9% in 1H June 2019
Related: FOBAS: Surge in bunker off-spec cases at Antwerp port during 2H May
Related: FOBAS: 16% decrease in off-specs of bunker samples in 1H May
Related: FOBAS: 69 cases of off-spec bunker cases identified in 2H April
Related: FOBAS: High Acid number and possible fuel contamination at Fujairah
Related: FOBAS: 72% increase in off-spec marine fuel cases in 2H March
Related: FOBAS: Off-spec marine fuel cases down 16% in 1H March
Related: FOBAS Alert: Low flash point residual fuels at Singapore port
Related: FOBAS: 52% increase in off-spec marine fuel cases in 2H Feb
Related: FOBAS: 48 off-specification marine fuel cases in 1H February
Related: FOBAS: 91 instances of off-spec bunker fuel cases in 2H January
Related: FOBAS Alert: Off spec sediment bunker fuel oil from Singapore
Published: 17 October, 2019
