Lloyd’s Register Fuel Oil Bunkering Analysis and Advisory Service (FOBAS) on Tuesday (26 April) released a bulletin on steps and best practices shipowners should take for ships affected by low flash point bunker fuel.
26 April 2022
Recently FOBAS has tested several samples from Antwerp, Rotterdam and Amsterdam (ARA) region, which were ordered as ISO-F-DMA grades, having tested flash points below the 60°C SOLAS minimum limit for marine fuel oil. Tested results range from <40°C to 54°C. It should be noted that SOLAS refers to minimum of 60°C flash point for marine fuels and therefore no test tolerance range applies to the limit of 60°C which is considered as absolute.
As a first step for any ship having bunkered fuel with a low flash point, it is recommended that ship should contact the ship’s classification society, flag state and the insurance underwriters immediately for further advice.
Secondly further samples from the top of relevant storage tanks should be taken to confirm the flash point of the fuel in tanks as it can be the case that low flash point have been due to some of the low flash components in the fuel which are prone to evaporate giving rise to the flash point of fuel.
Best practice safety guidelines should be followed to reduce the potential risk due to low flash point fuel;
If your ships are planning to bunker at these ports, we recommend that suppliers are advised of your concerns regarding the flash point of the fuel and that they provide you with additional reassurance that they will meet the SOLAS requirements for marine fuel oils.
Additional attention should be given to the collection of bunker samples. It should be ensured that all parties have witnessed the sampling process and have signed witness forms accordingly, and that the supporting documentation includes records of all the samples considered representative of the fuel as loaded.
Photo credit: Hans Reniers
Published: 28 April, 2022
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