The Lloyd’s Register Fuel Oil Bunkering Analysis and Advisory Service (FOBAS) on Wednesday (12 August) published a bulletin alerting the maritime industry on a number of MGO samples from Singapore testing below the permitted flash point, as well as some practical advice on how to safeguard one’s position when ordering the fuel at the port:
Low Flash Point MGO in Singapore
In the last month FOBAS has tested a number of samples from Singapore, which were ordered as ISO-F-DMA grade, however tested flash points were below the 60°C SOLAS minimum limit. Tested results range from 57 to 59 °C. The SOLAS convention does not give any test margin for error rather a strict pass/fail so any result below 60°C even marginally is considered off-spec and in non-compliant with the convention.
In such cases, as a first step we recommend that best practice safety guidelines should be followed to reduce the potential risk due to low flash point fuel. Secondly vessels should contact the ships FlagState, insurance underwriters and classification society immediately for further advice.
If your ships are planning to bunker at this port, we recommend that suppliers are advised of your concerns regarding the flash point of the fuel and that they provide you with additional reassurance that they will meet the ISO 8217/SOLAS requirements for the grade ordered.
Additional attention should be given to the collection of bunker samples. It should be ensured that all parties have witnessed the sampling process and have signed witness forms accordingly, and that the supporting documentation includes records of all the samples considered representative of the fuel as loaded.
Published: 13 August, 2020
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Claim relates to deliveries of MGO to the vessels Pacific Diligence, Pacific Valkyrie, Pacific Defiance, Crest Alpha 1, and Pacific Warlock between March 2020 to April 2020.
