Singapore-based marine fuel testing and marine surveying business Maritec Pte Ltd (Maritec), now a subsidiary of Shenzhen-listed Centre Testing International Group’s (CTI), on Monday (8 March) said it has tested several samples representing VLSFO deliveries in Jan/Feb 2021 in Singapore and detected the presence of Phenol by GCMS.
Maritec reports it has recorded two consecutive instances of the same barge/supplier product testing at 385 and 111ppm.
“At these high concentrations there is an increased risk of the fuel losing its stability and breaking down leading to deposits in fuel system filters and purifiers,” said Maritec in a statement.
“If Phenol is detected in your bunker fuel Maritec advises to carefully observe the system for above signs and conduct further GCMS testing by ASTM D7845 and Solid Phase Extraction to detect other higher boiling point phenolic compounds and Estonian shale oil (alkyl 1,3-benzenediol derivatives).”
The bunker alert, however, does not reflect on the overall quality of fuel being supplied at Singapore, added Maritec.
If shipowners intend to bunker at this region, it will be prudent to conduct chemical screening by GCMS headspace as a pre-emptive analysis or consider subscribing to Maritec Enhanced Analysis Programme (MEAP).
Photo credit: Maritec
Published: 10 March, 2021
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