FOBAS issues industry update of new ISO 8217:2024 marine fuel specifications

Lloyd’s Register Fuel Oil Bunkering Analysis and Advisory Service (FOBAS) on Thursday (16 May) released a bulletin to highlight significant changes to the ISO 8217:2024 as compared to the 6th (2017) edition.

This bulletin is to bring all clients’ attention to the imminent publication of the new version of ISO 8217 and we will be updating again as soon as ISO secretariate uploads the final version of ISO 8217:2024 on its website.

The increasing demand of environmental legislation is leading a marine fuel transition towards oil products derived from synthetic and renewable, recycled or alternative sources. There are a number of significant changes as compared to the 6th (2017) edition both in terms of extent and content.

• The most noticeable change is to the residual grades in that these will now be divided into three separate tables
  • 4 RM grades not exceeding 0.50% or 0.10% sulphur,
  • 5 RF (biofuel) grades covering unrestricted % FAME content
  • 5 RM grades above 0.50% sulphur.
• Similarly for the distillates each of the grades, apart from DMX, has a corresponding FAME blend version of unrestricted %
• In the case of the FAME blends, residual or distillate, the percentage of FAME component is to be advised to the receiver at delivery
• The FAME used is generally to have met either the EN 14214 or ASTM D6751
• The net specific energy is to be reported by the supplier
• Suppliers to ensure all fuel grades are free of organic chlorides
• Each of the category tables now includes specific reference to the normative paragraphs of the standard
• The principal change to the residual grades is that these all now also include a minimum, in addition to the existing maximum, viscosity
• To enhance control of asphaltene stability in the case of sulphur limited RM grades and the RF grades, this is now limited in terms of total sediment by thermal ageing to the same limit as before but additionally the accelerated and existent values are also to be reported by the supplier

It is also worth noting that generally the limit values, for both the distillates and residuals, have not fundamentally altered although for residuals there has been a redistribution across the reduced number of grades.

Lloyd’s Register FOBAS has been heavily involved in guiding and contributing as a member of the ISO and CIMAC fuels working groups and for our position we would highly recommend adopting this new standard in all fuel purchasing/sourcing processes whenever possible. We will have a number of additional testing options available which we will further explain on request.

As mentioned, a far more detailed bulletin will be issued shortly supported by a list of FAQ to further support your operations.

Photo credit: Hans Reniers on Unsplash
Published: 17 May 2024