Five new cases of aluminium + silicon (cat fine) off spec issues have been recorded at Singapore port for the period between 15th May to 31st May 2018, according to data from Lloyd’s Register Fuel Oil Bunkering Analysis and Advisory Service (FOBAS) data using ISO 8217:2017 as a guideline.
The fuel analysis firm in an earlier report found zero incidences of cat fines and low flash point issues at the republic for the period between 1st May to 14th May 2018.
A report from the similar firm highlighted seven excessive cat fines at Singapore port between 15th and 30th April 2018.
The most recent issues of cat fines were nothing ‘too concerning’, says an industry veteran.
“Most of the bunker contracts at Singapore are based on ISO 8217:2005 standard which specifies a limit of 80 mg/kg for cat fines, while the FOBAS report uses ISO 8217:2017 which states a limit of 60 mg/kg for cat fines,” he explained to Manifold Times.
“The five cases of cat fines recorded by FOBAS are 78 to 81; if you take ISO 8217:2005 standard into consideration the results are nothing too concerning.”
The top three off-spec bunker ports for the period between 15th May to 31st May 2018 are as follows:
| Port | Characteristic | ISO 8217 Limit or Advised Value | Final result | Unit |
| Singapore | Aluminium + Silicon | 60* | 78 | mg/kg |
| Singapore | Aluminium + Silicon | 60* | 77 | mg/kg |
| Singapore | Aluminium + Silicon | 60* | 79 | mg/kg |
| Singapore | Aluminium + Silicon | 60* | 79 | mg/kg |
| Singapore | Aluminium + Silicon | 60* | 81 | mg/kg |
| Singapore | Density at 15oC | 0.9908** | 0.9930 | kg/l |
| Singapore | Density at 15oC | 0.9908** | 0.9928 | kg/l |
| Singapore | Pour point | 0* | 6 | oC |
| Rotterdam | Viscosity at 50oC | 379.8** | 402.9 | cSt |
| Rotterdam | Viscosity at 50oC | 696.2** | 731.8 | cSt |
| Rotterdam | Viscosity at 50oC | 379.3** | 402.7 | cSt |
| Rotterdam | Water | 0.50* | 0.85 | % Volume |
| Antwerp | Viscosity at 40oC | 6.00** | 6.0 | cSt |
| Antwerp | Viscosity at 40oC | 3.50** | 6.2 | cSt |
| Antwerp | Viscosity at 50oC | 699.5** | 737.8 | cSt |
| Istanbul | Viscosity at 50oC | 380.0** | 408.1 | cSt |
| Istanbul | Viscosity at 50oC | 380.0** | 399.2 | cSt |
| Istanbul | Viscosity at 50oC | 366.0** | 401.6 | cSt |
| Paradip | Ash | 0.100* | 0.142 | % Mass |
| Paradip | Sodium | 100* | 244 | mg/kg |
| Paradip | Water | 0.50* | 4.30 | % Volume |
Off-spec bunker fuel cases in Singapore during April have caused players to question the traceability of oil material, suggesting the issue could be fixed through increased regulation of the entire bunker supply chain.
Related: INSIGHT: Off-spec issues reveal 'missing piece' of Singapore bunker supply chain
Related: Singapore: Cat fines, flash point off spec issues resolved
Related: FOBAS: Cat fines plagued Singapore off-spec bunkers in April
Published: 8 June, 2018
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