BREAKING: Vessels supplied in Singapore yet to report engine issues due to contaminated bunkers, following Houston VLSFO case

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) on Saturday (12 August) said it has not received reports of vessels experiencing engine issues from contaminated bunker fuel supplied in Singapore to date.

MPA said this in response to questions from Singapore-based bunkering publication Manifold Times, relating to the VLSFO marine fuel contamination case in Houston. 

Marine fuel testing firm VPS previously revealed out of 14 vessels affected by the issue, two vessels were supplied with contaminated fuel oil in Singapore and 12 vessels received it in Houston. 

“MPA has reached out to VPS to obtain information on the two vessels which they had reported to have taken contaminated fuel in Singapore, including the test results of the fuel supplied to these vessels. MPA is investigating the matter,” the port authority told Manifold Times. 

“To date, MPA has not received reports of vessels experiencing engine-related problems due to contaminated fuel supplied in Singapore, such as the presence of Dicyclopentadiene, in 2023.”

On 10 July, VPS informed its customers and the wider market, of the presence of Dicyclopentadiene (DCPD) isomers at significantly high levels within VLSFO bunker fuel deliveries in Houston. The contaminants were detected using in-house GC-MS (Gas Chromatography – Mass Spectrometer) analytical methodologies.

Initially, VPS highlighted eleven vessels had suffered operational issues, such as loss of power and propulsion whilst at sea. These effects resulted from fuel leakage in the ICU (Injection Control Unit) units and fuel pumps not being able to develop the required fuel pressure, affecting only the Auxilary engines and not Main engines. The contaminated VLSFO had been delivered in Houston, by one single fuel supplier.

Four weeks later, VPS provided a further update on the spread of this fuel contamination issue: Fourteen vessels in total, received this contaminated fuel and suffered some form of damage to their auxiliary engines and fuel delivery systems. Twelve of the vessels received their fuel in Houston, whilst a further two vessels received their fuel in Singapore, with the fuel delivered by four suppliers.

Lloyd’s Register Fuel Oil Bunkering Analysis and Advisory Service (FOBAS) also highlighted it dealt with a number of problematic VLSFO RM fuels from the US Gulf region, specifically from Houston and New Orleans. During the use of these fuels vessels have reported varying degrees of problems with the fuel injection equipment, which in a couple of cases has resulted in total loss of power.

Related: VPS: Houston contaminated VLSFO bunker fuel was also supplied in Singapore
Related: VPS identifies new bunker fuel contamination at Houston
Related: FOBAS: Possible bunker fuel contamination in Houston and US Gulf area
Related: Viswa Group gives update on bunker fuel issues in Houston
Related: FuelTrust analysis finds fuel content discrepancies in 39% of global bunker deliveries

Photo credit: Manifold Times
Published: 12 August, 2023