Classification society Bureau Veritas (BV) on Tuesday (30 June) announced that it has entered exclusive negotiations with Triton Partners regarding the sale of its Oil & Petrochemicals and Coal testing and inspection business, BVF. 

This strategic divestment is in full alignment with the Group’s LEAP | 28 strategy.

The proposed transaction would include the Oil & Petrochemicals and Coal testing and inspection activities. In 2025, this business generated approximately EUR 450 million in revenue operating a global network across multiple countries, with a significant footprint of operational sites and employees. 

This business grew at a lower rate than the Group and is margin dilutive. It is included within Bureau Veritas’ “Optimize value and impact” portfolio and reported under the Agri-Food & Commodities division. 

“The transaction supports the strategic objective to increase exposure to higher growth and margin businesses,” BV said.  

This transaction represents a significant milestone in Bureau Veritas’ portfolio transformation. Following completion and taking into account other recent acquisitions year-to-date, the Group will have executed approximately 20% portfolio rotation since the launch of LEAP | 28. 

“This divestment is fully aligned with our LEAP | 28 strategy and our commitment to actively manage our portfolio,” said Hinda Gharbi, Chief Executive Officer of Bureau Veritas. 

“The Oil & Petrochemicals and Coal business operates in established and mature markets, and is led by a global team. Under the leadership of Triton Partners, we are confident that this business will continue to develop successfully. This transaction will create shareholders value as Bureau Veritas accelerates its planned portfolio pivots towards higher growth and higher margin activities.” 

The transaction, based on an enterprise value of EUR 470 million, implies an EV/EBIT multiple of 11.1x on 2025 results post IFRS16. The disposal will have a positive impact on the Group’s organic growth profile, adjusted operating margin and return on capital employed. The deal is anticipated to be broadly neutral to earnings after closing. 

Bureau Veritas intends to redeploy the proceeds towards higher-growth and higher-margin businesses, in line with LEAP I 28 portfolio ambitions.

Photo credit: Bureau Veritas
Published: 1 July, 2026

Bunker fuel testing and marine surveying business Maritec-Naias on Friday (12 June) issued an alert regarding high levels of catalytic fines and elevated acid numbers present in multiple VLSFO bunker samples from deliveries in the Singapore port: 

During the period of 20 May 2026 and 02 June 2026, Maritec Pte. Ltd. (hereafter referred to as Maritec-Naias) conducted testing on five samples representing Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (VLSFO) deliveries from two suppliers in the Singapore port. The analyses revealed Aluminium and Silicon (Al+Si) concentrations ranging from 61 mg/kg to 68 mg/kg.

It is important to note; these values exceed the ISO 8217:2010/2017 specification limit of 60 ppm but remain within the permissible tolerance limit of 72 ppm under ISO 4259 for a single test result. In this regard, Catalytic Fines content, (Aluminium+Silicon), above 60 ppm is regarded as high. Of the five samples, three originated from one supplier, while the remaining two were from another.

Aluminium and Silicon constitute the principal classes of abrasive solids in fuels. Elevated concentrations of such particles at the engine inlet can precipitate abnormal wear and tear of fuel system components, piston rings, and cylinder liners. To safeguard against this, many engine manufacturers stipulate a maximum threshold of 15 mg/kg Al+Si at the engine inlet.

The primary method of mitigating Catfines is through an efficiently operating fuel purification system. Monitoring Aluminium and Silicon levels both before and after centrifugation provides a reliable measure of the system’s effectiveness in removing these contaminants.

During a similar period, Maritec-Naias also tested fifteen bunker fuel samples representing VLSFO that exhibited elevated Acid Numbers, ranging from 2.0 mg KOH/g to 2.5 mg KOH/g. While these values remain within specification limits, they are nonetheless considered at higher side. Elevated Acid Numbers may stem from contamination with acidic compounds such as Phenolic compounds and Alkyl Resorcinols, often associated with Estonian Shale Oil. Such contaminants can lead to operational complications including sludge formation, fuel pump seizures, and compromised injection equipment cleanliness.

Maritec-Naias Recommendations

• High Catfines monitoring: Maritec-Naias advises collecting samples at critical points within the fuel system — including the fuel oil tank transfer pump, before and after centrifuge, service tank, and after fine-filter — to evaluate the efficiency of fuel cleaning.
• Elevated Acid Numbers: For fuels with elevated Acid Numbers, Maritec-Naias recommends conducting Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) using the Solid Phase Extraction (SPE) method to identify the specific acidic compounds present or upgrading your marine fuel testing package to MFTP Plus, which enables pre-emptive monitoring to detect major harmful substances prevalent in the market, such as Cashew Nut Shell Liquid (CNSL), Phenolic compounds and Alkyl Resorcinols that cause damage to equipment.

Maritec-Naias states, while all data and findings presented in this document are true, it does not reflect on the overall quality of fuel being supplied in Singapore region. If you intend to bunker at this region, please request for a Certificate of Quality (CoQ) prior to loading.

Photo credit: Hans Reniers on Unsplash
Published: 15 June, 2026

Captain Rahul Choudhuri, President of Strategic Partnerships at marine fuels testing company VPS, on Monday (8 June) offered insight and advice on how to manage fuel quality onboard idle vessels in the Gulf region: 

The Current Situation

Since the closure of the Strait of Hormuz to most commercial shipping in late February 2026, an estimated 1,550 vessels, carrying approximately 20,000 seafarers, have been unable to transit, or have chosen to remain at anchor in the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, and approaches. Traffic through the Strait, which normally averages around 138 vessels per day, has fallen to near-zero on most days. The conflict began on 28 February 2026, resulting in vessels being idle for approximately 90 days. Many are expected to remain idle until a navigable resolution to the situation emerges, which cannot be predicted at this time.

For vessel owners and operators responsible for such vessels, there is a need to focus on the technical consequences of extended idle upon fuel quality and what needs to be done in order to protect the vessel, crew and the environment.

Fuel Quality Deterioration During Extended Idle

Fuel deterioration in idle vessels is caused by a combination of time, temperature, water ingress, and inactivity. Each mechanism reinforces the others. The Arabian Gulf summer (June–September) is one of the most demanding storage environments in global shipping, with bunker tank temperatures on unshaded anchored vessels regularly reaching 50–55°C.

Biofuel Blends

The UAE, principally Fujairah and Jebel Ali, has begun supplying ISCC-certified marine biofuel blends, primarily FAME (UCOME) blended into VLSFO, at concentrations typically ranging from B10 to B30 (10–30% FAME by volume). Vessels that bunkered Biofuel blends before going idle face additional degradation risks that do not apply to conventional fuel:

FAME (UCOME) blends, may exhibit reduced storage stability. Although storage life varies, a typical shelf life is often considered to be around 3 to 4 months, after which the risk of oxidation, acid formation and microbial contamination may increase, particularly under elevated ambient temperatures.

FAME is hygroscopic and absorbs water from tank atmospheres, promoting microbial growth at rates significantly higher than conventional VLSFO. Here, the free-water monitoring frequency should be doubled for any tank containing a biofuel blend.

FAME can cause filter blockage. Depending on feedstock composition, may be susceptible to crystallisation at lower temperatures. Therefore, Wax Appearance Temperature testing should be performed before re-activation for any vessel sailing to cooler latitudes post-Gulf.

Note: The full article by VPS can be viewed here.

Photo credit: VPS
Published: 9 June, 2026