The Lloyd’s Register Fuel Oil Bunkering Analysis and Advisory Service (FOBAS) recorded 71 off-spec cases between 1 to 14 March in accordance to ISO 8217:2017 standards, with most cases recorded at Singapore, Rotterdam and Santos port.
Eleven of the 15 off-spec cases at Singapore port relate to the traditional pour point issues found at the republic; these are ‘not a big issue’, according to an earlier interview.
The majority of issues at Rotterdam and Santos ports, meanwhile, were viscosity and density off-specs.
“The [viscosity and density off-specs] issues are off-spec on paper but generally present not much of an operational headache,” a Singapore-based source told Manifold Times on Friday.
“The density parameter is used to calculate volume and quantity of marine fuel. This can be easily overcome with a change in calculation method.
“Most marine engines these days can handle different viscosity levels with ease. It is just some adjustment needed by the engineers on board.
“Nothing alarming.”
Top off-spec bunker ports for the period between 1 to 14 March 2018 are as follows:
| Port | Characteristic | ISO 8217 Limit or Advised Value | Final result | Unit |
| Singapore | Density at 15oC | 0.9909** | 0.9920 | kg/l |
| Singapore | Density at 15oC | 0.9907** | 0.9927 | kg/l |
| Singapore | Density at 15oC | 0.9909** | 0.9920 | kg/l |
| Singapore | Pour point | 0* | 9 | oC |
| Singapore | Pour point | 0* | 6 | oC |
| Singapore | Pour point | 0* | 6 | oC |
| Singapore | Pour point | 0* | 9 | oC |
| Singapore | Pour point | 0* | 9 | oC |
| Singapore | Pour point | 0* | 9 | oC |
| Singapore | Pour point | 0* | 9 | oC |
| Singapore | Pour point | 0* | 6 | oC |
| Singapore | Pour point | 0* | 6 | oC |
| Singapore | Pour point | 0* | 9 | oC |
| Singapore | Pour point | 0* | 9 | oC |
| Singapore | Vanadium | 150* | 171 | mg/kg |
| Rotterdam | Density at 15oC | 0.9909** | 0.9937 | kg/l |
| Rotterdam | Viscosity at 50oC | 377.0** | 404.8 | cSt |
| Rotterdam | Viscosity at 50oC | 352.0** | 405.6 | cSt |
| Rotterdam | Viscosity at 50oC | 380.0** | 398.2 | cSt |
| Rotterdam | Viscosity at 50oC | 699.7** | 731.9 | cSt |
| Rotterdam | Viscosity at 50oC | 178.0** | 189.8 | cSt |
| Rotterdam | Viscosity at 50oC | 380.0** | 404.2 | cSt |
| Santos | Density at 15oC | 0.9878** | 0.9920 | kg/l |
| Santos | Density at 15oC | 0.9888** | 0.9938 | kg/l |
| Santos | Density at 15oC | 0.9898** | 0.9922 | kg/l |
| Santos | Density at 15oC | 0.9898** | 0.9920 | kg/l |
Related: Singapore MGO pour point off-spec cases ‘not big issue’
Published: 23 March, 2018
Majority of off specification marine fuel cases concerns viscosity of material at Belgium port, shows LR report.
Real safety concerns: Several ISO-F-RMG380 samples tested with flash points between 35 to 47 degrees Celsius.
Bonded bunker sales for state-owned enterprises and Zhoushan enterprises were 1.47 mln mt and 155,800 mt, accounting for 90.42% and 9.58%.
High cat fines for deliveries were made by multiple marine fuel suppliers from 1 to 6 April, 2018.
A total 4.14 million mt of marine fuel was sold at the world’s largest bunkering port in February 2018.
The region was dominated by geo-political events in 2017 which created tremendous impact on the shipping and oil industry, recalls Trading Manager of Ennero.
Transferred shares of 40 subsidiaries to BVI firm after tribunal awarded claims in favour of Trinity Seatrading; YSPL has also filed a civil complaint against DNV and Liberian ship registry at Nanjing Maritime Court.
ADNOC L&S, Gulf Energy Maritime, Cockett Marine Oil, Mideast/Bahri Ship Management and VPS experts present their views on biofuel bunker hurdles at the VPS Biofuels Seminar in Dubai on 16 March.
‘Bunker barges operate in very local areas so these vessels call at port very often which means it will be a good fit for women with families,’ states Elpi Petraki, President of WISTA International.
“Our Singapore branch is under preparation and is expected to start business at the republic before June 2023,” Managing Director Darcy Wong tells bunkering publication Manifold Times in an interview.
Development to supply B35 biodiesel blend officially takes effect on 1 February; local bunker suppliers will be able to deliver updated spec within March onwards, once current stocks of B30 avails run out.
VPS, Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation, Wilhelmsen Ship Management, and INTERTANKO executives offered a multitude of perspectives to 73 attendees during the VPS Biofuels Seminar, reports Manifold Times.
