The Lloyd’s Register Fuel Oil Bunkering Analysis and Advisory Service (FOBAS) found 59 off-spec marine fuel cases during the period between 1 to 14 (1H) July, 6% lower when compared to 63 identified in 2H June 2019.
The most off-spec cases were recorded at Singapore port which saw the majority of issues related to pour point.
A source earlier told Manifold Times pour point off spec cases at Singapore are “not a big issue” due to local weather conditions.
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 1H July are as follows:
| Port | Characteristic | ISO 8217 Limit or Advised Value |
Final result | Unit |
| 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 | Pour point | 0* | 6 | °C |
| Singapore | Pour point | 0* | 6 | °C |
| Singapore | Pour point | 0* | 6 | °C |
| Texas City | Aluminium + Silicon | 60* | 140 | mg/kg |
| Texas City | Ash | 0.100* | 0.131 | % Mass |
| Texas City | Total Sediment Potential | 0.10* | 0.19 | % Mass |
| Texas City | ULO | Detected | Detected | |
| Texas City | Water | 0.50* | 0.70 | % 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: 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
Photo credit: Manifold Times
Published: 18 July, 2019
In the last two weeks FOBAS has tested samples from Antwerp which had TSP results exceeding the ISO 8217 specification limit of 0.10% m/m.
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Several VLSFO samples in Singapore and Malaysia found with flashpoint as low as 50°C for the period of 15th July 2021 to 05th August 2021, it highlights.
Scope Ratings issues report to forecast container shipping market for in the next 18 months.
Issues with contaminated bunker supplies at Houston continue and have begun to spread worldwide.
Sales of marine diesel oil, specifically, were up by 30% on year in 2017.
Program introduces periodic assessments, mass flow metering data analysis, and regular training for relevant key personnel to better handle the MFMS to ensure a high level of continuous operational competency.
U.S. Claims Register Summary recorded a total USD 833 million claim from a total 180 creditors against O.W. Bunker USA, according to the creditor list seen by Singapore bunkering publication Manifold Times.
Glencore purchased fuel through Straits Pinnacle which contracted supply from Unicious Energy. Contaminated HSFO was loaded at Khor Fakkan port and shipped to a FSU in Tanjong Pelepas, Malaysia to be further blended.
Individuals were employees of surveying companies engaged by Shell to inspect the volume of oil loaded onto the vessels which Shell supplied oil to; they allegedly accepted bribes totalling at least USD 213,000.
MPA preliminary investigations revealed that the affected marine fuel was supplied by Glencore Singapore Pte Ltd who later sold part of the same cargo to PetroChina International (Singapore) Pte Ltd.
‘MPA had immediately contacted the relevant bunker suppliers to take necessary steps to ensure that the relevant batch of fuel was no longer supplied. Further investigations are currently on-going,’ it informs.
