Business

Argus media: Distillate blending in VLSFO raises concerns

Blending jet and road fuels into the marine fuel pool could lead to lower flash point, increasing cleaning costs and risking engine damage.

Published

6 years ago

October 8, 2020

Admin

George Collard and Catherine Caulfield of global energy and commodity price reporting agency Argus Media on Wednesday (7 October) published an article on concerns raised by blending jet fuel and automotive fuels into marine fuels in an interview with Veritas Petroleum Services:

Blending jet and road fuels into the marine fuel pool could lead to a lower flash point, increasing cleaning costs and risking engine damage, ship testing data has shown.

The practice is understood not to be widespread in Europe, but has been a greater concern in Asia-Pacific bunker markets.

Fuel testing company Veritas Petroleum Services (VPS) told Argus that density and viscosity values of 0.5pc fuel oil (VLSFO) around the world have become lower as the year has progressed. This suggests lighter fuels, such as road and aviation fuels, have been blended into the VLSFO pool, VPS said. The firm said 46pc of the 37 bunker alerts it has issued this year have been for low flash points with all marine fuel types affected.

“We believe these [transport fuels] may have been blended into marine fuels and being more volatile, this blending has lowered the flash point. In addition, viscosities and densities of VLSFOs have been wide ranging since their introduction,” group commercial director at VPS Steve Bee said.

The impact of Covid-19 on jet and transport fuel demand has led to a surplus of these fuels at relatively lower costs. The strength of marine fuel prices over jet fuel prompted some blending of straight-run kerosine to produce VLSFO in Singapore, the world’s largest bunkering hub. VLSFO has held a premium to jet fuel traded in Singapore since the end of August, averaging $10/t in September. In Europe, VLSFO averaged a discount of $30/t to jet during the same period. Comparatively, jet fuel averaged a $66/t premium to VLSFO in Singapore and $130/t in Europe in September 2019.

Market participants confirmed that the blending of distillates in to the marine pool is not happening on a significant scale in Europe.

But blending of jet and road fuels in to VLSFO has caused concern. Too much straight-run kerosine has the potential to lower the temperature at which fuels ignite, known as the flash point, posing a dangerous risk to ship engines. The minimum flash point for A1 jet fuel is 38°C compared with a minimum for VLSFO of 60°C.

These blending practices could also result in fuel instability and lead to asphaltene precipitation in tanks and ship engines resulting in the formation of sludge. This has the potential to block pipes, filters and centrifuges and result in higher cleaning costs for tank and ship owners.

Marine lubricant performance could be impacted by higher asphaltene precipitation. Lubricants could struggle to keep a higher asphaltene content in suspension. The deposition of sludge in ship engines can lead to loss of fuel economy and, at worst, irreversible engine damage.

UK-based testing firm Bureau Veritas has previously warned that “extreme caution” should be used when blending jet fuel with bunker fuel.

Efforts to keep distillate blending within marine fuel specifications would minimise the risk of adverse effects. “The amount of jet fuel that eventually can be blended into marine fuel is certainly restricted by the minimum flashpoint requirement for marine fuels of 60°C,” Monique Vermeire, fuels technologist at Chevron, said. There is also the requirement that “all delivered fuels shall be stable, meaning asphaltenes kept in solution which is covered by the potential total sediment limit of 0.1pc maximum,” she said. Vermeire is also the convenor of the ISO working group responsible for marine fuels standard ISO 8217.

Photo credit and source: Argus Media
Published: 8 October, 2020

Biofuel

Petrochina International blends over 30,000 mt of marine biofuel since March

Company has been developing marine biofuel blending operations at China (Zhejiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone, leveraging storage and logistics facilities at its Aoshan base.

Published

23 hours ago

September 21, 2026

Admin

Zhoushan completes China’s first batch of marine biofuel blending under pilot programme

Petrochina International Co Ltd recently said it has blended more than 30,000 metric tonnes (mt) mt of biofuel since completing the country’s first biofuel marine fuel blending operation on 13 March.

The company said the milestone demonstrates its ability to conduct continuous and large-scale biofuel marine fuel blending operations.

The company has been developing marine biofuel blending operations at China (Zhejiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone, leveraging storage and logistics facilities at its Aoshan base.

Its latest product, B24 marine fuel containing 24% biofuel component, meets relevant International Maritime Organization (IMO) requirements and marine fuel standards, according to the company. It said the product can be supplied for bunkering vessels operating on international routes.

It has used its global trading network to secure feedstock supplies and support cost control and supply security for the blending operations, it added.

The company said the large-scale blending of its marine biofuel products marks a development in China’s marine biofuel blending market.

It plans to work with upstream and downstream businesses within its group to support the development of Zhoushan Port as a major bonded marine fuel bunkering hub and contribute to its parent group’s transition towards lower-carbon energy.

Manifold Times previously reported China (Zhejiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone launching the first pilot programme for marine biofuel blending in China with the completion of the first batch of B24-HSFO.

The launch was marked with the blending of 2,000 mt of biodiesel and 6,300 mt of high sulphur fuel oil (HSFO) in storage tank F-02 of Sinochem-Xingzhong Oil Staging (Zhoushan), producing 8,300 mt of B24-HSFO.

Manifold Times also reported the first cross-regional bonded bunkering operation of blended biofuel in East China was successfully completed at the Meishan Port Area of Ningbo-Zhoushan Port.

The B24-HSFO used in the bunkering operation was supplied by the Aoshan Petroleum Base in Zhoushan from the first pilot programme for marine biofuel blending in China.

Photo credit: Sinochem-Xingzhong Oil Staging (Zhoushan)
Published: 21 September, 2026

Winding up

Singapore: Final general meetings scheduled for Dromond Shipping, related firms

A member is entitled to attend the meetings and should notify the liquidators’ team office via email no later than 48 hours prior to the meeting.

Published

23 hours ago

September 21, 2026

Admin

The final general meetings of Dromond Shipping Pte Ltd and related companies have been scheduled to take place on 19 October, according to the company’s liquidator on a notice posted on Friday (18 September) on the Government Gazette.

The other companies are Tidewater Emergency Response Services Pte Ltd, Tidewater Production Solutions Pte Ltd and Tidewater Salvage Pte Ltd.

The final general meetings of the members of the companies will be held via electronic means on 19 October 2026 at 2.00 pm, 2.30 pm, 3.00 pm and 3.30 pm (Singapore time), respectively.

The meetings are being held for the purpose of having accounts laid before the members showing the manner in which the winding up of the respective companies has been conducted and how the property of the respective companies has been disposed of and to hear any explanation that may be given by the liquidators.

The details of the liquidator is as follows:

Tan Kim Han
Joint and Several Liquidators
137 Amoy Street, #02-03, Far East Square
Singapore 049965

Note: A member is entitled to attend the above meeting and should notify the Liquidators’ team office via email to [email protected] or [email protected] no later than 48 hours prior to the meeting.

Photo credit: steve pb from Pixabay
Published: 21 September, 2026

Ammonia

NYK wraps up first STS ammonia bunkering operation in Japan

Ammonia fuel was transferred from the ammonia carrier “Shoei Maru” via the STS method to an ammonia-fuelled medium gas carrier, scheduled for delivery in November 2026.

Published

23 hours ago

September 21, 2026

Admin

NYK wraps up first STS ammonia bunkering operation in Japan

NYK Line, on Thursday (17 September) with Japan Marine United Corporation, Nihon Shipyard Co Ltd, Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company, and Kokuka Sangyo Co Ltd, has completed the world’s first ship-to-ship (STS) ammonia bunkering operation to an ammonia-fuelled vessel.

At a quay within Japan Marine United Corporation’s Ariake Shipyard, ammonia fuel was transferred from the ammonia carrier Shoei Maru via the STS method to an ammonia-fuelled medium gas carrier (AFMGC) scheduled for delivery in November 2026.

The operation was conducted in preparation for sea trials of the AFMGC using fuel ammonia.

“This achievement represents an important initiative that has put into practice an operation essential for the future practical deployment of ammonia-fuelled vessels,” the company said.

The bunkering operation was conducted following extensive discussions among the companies involved. Safe operating procedures and work processes were established prior to the operation, enabling the transfer to be completed safely. Through this initiative, we have accumulated practical insights regarding safe fuel supply operations.

This operation serves as a pioneering example of the fuel-supply framework that will be required for the widespread adoption of ammonia-fuelled vessels.

The AFMGC is currently in the final stage of construction and is scheduled for delivery in November 2026.

“The successful completion of this operation marks a significant milestone toward the broader commercial use of fuel ammonia and the practical deployment of ammonia-fuelled vessels. It also represents an important step forward in establishing an ammonia supply chain,” the company added.

Photo credit: NYK
Published: 21 September, 2026