FOBAS: Global off-spec bunker samples 63% up in 2H July
- Published
by Admin
International off-spec bunker samples tested by the Lloyd’s Register Fuel Oil Bunkering Analysis and Advisory Service (FOBAS) increased 63% to 96 instances during the period between 15 to 31 (2H) July, when compared to 1H of the similar month.
Singapore port saw the most off-spec cases where the majority of issues were related to pour point; pour point off-spec cases at Singapore are “not a big issue” due to local weather conditions, a source earlier told Manifold Times.
The off-spec cases occurred when a result was outside the 95% confidence limit of either ISO 8217 6th edition test parameter or a value given by the BDN or sample label.
The top bunker ports with reported off-spec bunker fuel cases in 2H July are as follows:
| Port | Characteristic | ISO 8217 Limit or Advised Value |
Final result | Unit |
| Singapore | Aluminium + Silicon | 60* | 133 | mg/kg |
| Singapore | Ash | 0.100* | 0.126 | % Mass |
| Singapore | Pour point | 0* | 6 | °C |
| Singapore | Pour point | 0* | 6 | °C |
| Singapore | Pour point | 0* | 6 | °C |
| Singapore | Pour point | 0* | 6 | °C |
| Singapore | Pour point | 0* | 6 | °C |
| Singapore | Pour point | 0* | 6 | °C |
| Singapore | Pour point | 0* | 6 | °C |
| Singapore | Pour point | 0* | 6 | °C |
| Singapore | Pour point | 0* | 6 | °C |
| Singapore | Pour point | 0* | 6 | °C |
| Singapore | Pour point | 0* | 6 | °C |
| Singapore | Pour point | 0* | 6 | °C |
| Singapore | Sulphur | 0.09** | 0.15 | % Mass |
| Singapore | Water | 0.50* | 0.75 | % Volume |
| Antwerp | Viscosity at 40°C | 3.50** | 6.1 | cSt |
| Antwerp | Viscosity at 40°C | 4.90** | 6.1 | cSt |
| Antwerp | Viscosity at 40°C | 6.00** | 6.0 | cSt |
| Antwerp | Viscosity at 40°C | 6.00** | 6.1 | cSt |
| Antwerp | Viscosity at 40°C | 4.90** | 6.1 | cSt |
| Antwerp | Viscosity at 50°C | 4.78** | 552.1 | cSt |
| Antwerp | Water | Trace* | 3.20 | % Volume |
| Fujairah | Sulphur | 3.47** | 3.85 | % Mass |
| Fujairah | Sulphur | 3.47** | 3.90 | % Mass |
| Fujairah | Sulphur | 3.47** | 3.87 | % Mass |
| Fujairah | Viscosity at 50°C | 379.8** | 408.1 | cSt |
| Rotterdam | Viscosity at 40°C | 3.50** | 6.1 | cSt |
| Rotterdam | Viscosity at 50°C | 347.0** | 401.3 | cSt |
| Rotterdam | Water | 0.50* | 0.90 | % Volume |
| Rotterdam | Water | 0.50* | 1.00 | % Volume |
*ISO 8217 6th edition limit
**Advised value from BDN or sample label
***Due to the statutory significance of Flash Point the 95% confidence limit is not applied
Earlier FOBAS reports on off-spec fuels and bunker alerts in 2019 have been organised in chronological order below:
Related: FOBAS: International off-spec bunker cases down 6% in 1H July
Related: FOBAS: Update on contaminated fuels from St Petersburg, Russia
Related: FOBAS: High Aluminium + Silicon levels in fuels from Chennai
Related: FOBAS: 63 off-spec bunker cases identified in 2H June 2019
Related: FOBAS: International off-spec bunker cases up 9% in 1H June 2019
Related: FOBAS: Surge in bunker off-spec cases at Antwerp port during 2H May
Related: FOBAS: 16% decrease in off-specs of bunker samples in 1H May
Related: FOBAS: 69 cases of off-spec bunker cases identified in 2H April
Related: FOBAS: High Acid number and possible fuel contamination at Fujairah
Related: FOBAS: 72% increase in off-spec marine fuel cases in 2H March
Related: FOBAS: Off-spec marine fuel cases down 16% in 1H March
Related: FOBAS Alert: Low flash point residual fuels at Singapore port
Related: FOBAS: 52% increase in off-spec marine fuel cases in 2H Feb
Related: FOBAS: 48 off-specification marine fuel cases in 1H February
Related: FOBAS: 91 instances of off-spec bunker fuel cases in 2H January
Related: FOBAS Alert: Off spec sediment bunker fuel oil from Singapore
Published: 2 August, 2019
