Oil major ExxonMobil Thursday issued a statement advising shipowners on the safe consumption of low sulphur marine fuel below:
The fuels landscape is set to dramatically change when the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) 0.5 per cent sulphur cap comes into force on 1 January, 2020. Ahead of this, ExxonMobil has developed top tips to help the marine industry switch to low sulphur fuels while maintaining a vessel’s safe and reliable operation.
First, establish best practice
Prevention is always better than cure, so it is advisable to:
Test for cat fines
Some new 0.5% sulphur fuels could contain elevated levels of cat fines which, if not properly treated, could trigger catastrophic engine damage. If laboratory testing shows a high concentration, then:
Check for compatibility
There is a risk that two compliant fuels will not be compatible, which can trigger sludge formation. It is therefore essential to:
Monitor for sludge
If sludge does start to form, it is essential to ensure against further fuel blending before any remedial action is taken, as this may exacerbate the problem. Then:
“With so many different types of fuel potentially set to enter the bunker market, vessel operators are rightly concerned about stability, compatibility and quality issues, such as elevated levels of cat fines,” said John LaRese, Marine Fuels Technical Advisor, ExxonMobil.
“It will therefore be more important than ever for operators to follow best practice when bunkering compliant fuels, including using laboratories to test fuel samples for potential issues.”
Photo credit: ExxonMobil
Published: 29 June, 2018
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