The following is a statement written by the International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA):
Global marine fuel test data provided to the IMO’s sulphur monitoring programme shows a slight year-on-year increase in average sulphur content of residual fuel oils from 2.58% in 2016 to 2.60% in 2017. In 2015, the average was 2.45% sulphur. The average sulphur content of distillate fuel oils, meanwhile, has been unchanged at 0.08% through 2015, 2016 and 2017.
The results of IMO’s sulphur monitoring programme are reported annually to the Marine Environment Protection Committee. The results for 2017 reported to MEPC 72 were based on 141,175 residual fuel oil samples accounting for a total of 121,428,910 tonnes supplied for use on board ships. The total number of distillate fuel samples tested was 72,286, corresponding to 12,173,450 tonnes supplied to ships.
Only 0.33% of the tested residual fuel oils exceeded 3.50% sulphur, the current global limit, down from 0.53% in 2016.
Speaking at MEPC 72, one member state noted that prior to the global limit falling from 4.5 to 3.50% sulphur, only 13% of all residual fuels in the IMO sulphur monitoring programme tested above the new limit. By contrast, only 1.6% of the residual fuels tested in 2017 were below 0.50%. The member state said this suggests that by 2020, some 98% of the current fuel supply needs to change.
Last year, IBIA analysis of the 2016 IMO sulphur monitoring data noted that the share of residual fuel oil testing at or below 0.50% sulphur was only 1.81% while a further 3.25% of the samples tested in the 0.50% to 1.00% sulphur range, suggesting that supply of residual fuel meeting the upcoming 0.50% sulphur limit without significant blending is very limited. The corresponding figures for 2017 were 1.61% at or below 0.50% and 3.34% in the 0.50% to 1.00% sulphur range.
For distillates, 95.02% of the tested fuel was below 0.10% m/m sulphur content, meaning the vast majority of distillate fuels supplied would meet the emission control area (ECA) sulphur limit.
The IMO sulphur monitoring report, using data provided by Lloyd’s Register EMEA, Veritas Petroleum Services B.V and Viswa Lab, showed that the average stem sizes in 2017 were 860 tonnes for residual fuel oil and 168 tonnes for distillates.
Published: 2 May, 2018
Pirate attack on MT Lee Bo underscores continued threat to vessels by criminal groups in the area.
Samples were all VSLFO fuels and TSP results ranged up to 0.35% m/m; ships bunkering at these ports should request additional supplier reassurance, it said.
‘Generally, you have to heat VLSFOs to prevent waxing, but the more you heat them the lower the shelf life is going to be,’ Dr Malcolm Cooper, the Group Managing Director of VPS, tells Manifold Times.
Marine fuels blended by biodiesel, HSFO and distillates may form biofilm and clog up fuel filters, says LuminUltra.
The throughput of bunkered LNG increased from less than 100 mt to 1,500 mt in 2017, according to port data.
Zero cases of cat fines reported at republic in the first half of July 2018, says fuel quality report.
The bank is filing an application for pre-action discovery at the High Court of the Republic of Singapore in order to ascertain its future direction of proceedings against Sinfeng, according to court documents.
‘We need to keep in mind the saying “penny wise pound foolish”,’ says Captain Rahul Choudhuri, the Managing Director AMEA at VPS, who stresses on the essential role of the Bunker Surveyor.
Legal representatives met at the High Court on Tuesday to discuss the discharge of KPMG liquidators from all liability in respect of conduct in the course of winding up, show court documents.
Global sentence adjusts to 80 month’s imprisonment term for both Chang and Koh under application of the Masui sentencing framework; fine of SGD 6.2 million against Chang remains unchanged.
Company has been ranked EIGHTH for 2020; ‘we are humbled and proud to be placed amongst the top ten winners of the Enterprise 50 Awards,’ says Satnam Singh, COO, Sing Fuels.
Mads Bjornebye, Manager of Bunker Services at Teekay Tankers Ltd, shares about the company’s perspective of e-BDNs, bunker purchasing & planning tools, while offering his thoughts on future marine fuels.
