Cases of off-specification bunker fuel at Singapore port concerning excess aluminium and silicon content (cat fines) and low flash point seem to have been resolved, suggests recent Lloyd’s Register Fuel Oil Bunkering Analysis and Advisory Service (FOBAS) data.
It identified zero instances of cat fines and low flash point issues at the republic for the period between 1st May to 14th May 2018, as per ISO 8217:2017 test parameters.
The data was a stark contrast from the number of off-spec bunker fuel cases recorded at Singapore port between 15th and 30th April 2018.
The Managing Director of Singapore-based bunker quality and quantity surveying firm Majestic Maritime Services (MMS), meanwhile, confirmed the absence of serious off-spec issues at the bunker hub.
“We have not encountered any sever issues with bunker fuel quality concerning cat fines and low flash point issues from samples tested in May,” Sky Sim told the Manifold Times.
He added the tested vessel bunker samples contained cargo sourced from “most major terminals in Singapore”, but declined to name the entities due to sensitivity issues.
Off-spec bunker fuel cases in Singapore during April have caused players to question the traceability of oil material, suggesting the issue could be fixed through increased regulation of the entire bunker supply chain.
The top three off-spec bunker ports for the period between 1st May to 14th May 2018 are as follows:
| Port | Characteristic | ISO 8217 Limit or Advised Value | Final result | Unit |
| Singapore | Density at 15oC | 0.9908** | 0.9937 | kg/l |
| Singapore | Pour point | 0* | 9 | oC |
| Singapore | Pour point | 0* | 6 | oC |
| Singapore | Pour point | 0* | 6 | oC |
| Singapore | Pour point | 0* | 5 | oC |
| Singapore | Pour point | 0* | 6 | oC |
| Singapore | Viscosity at 50oC | 376.8** | 431.2 | cSt |
| Rotterdam | Density at 15oC | 0.9910** | 0.9932 | kg/l |
| Rotterdam | Viscosity at 50oC | 377.0** | 398.0 | cSt |
| Rotterdam | Viscosity at 50oC | 380.0** | 400.6 | cSt |
| Rotterdam | Viscosity at 50oC | 379.8** | 396.7 | cSt |
| Rotterdam | Water | 0.50* | 0.75 | % Volume |
| St Petersburg | Ash | 0.070* | 0.077 | % Mass |
| St Petersburg | CCAI | 860* | 960 | Index |
| St Petersburg | Density at 15oC | 0.9385** | 1.0673 | kg/l |
| St Petersburg | Water | 0.50* | 0.80 | % Volume |
| Patrasso | Acid Number | 0.50* | 3.00 | mgKOH/g |
| Patrasso | Ash | 0.010* | 0.124 | % Mass |
| Patrasso | MCR 10% bottom | 0.30* | 1.44 | % Mass |
| Patrasso | Total Sediment Potential | 0.10* | 0.2 | % Mass |
| Cartagena | Water | 0.50* | 1.80 | % Volume |
| Cartagena | Water | 0.50* | 1.80 | % Volume |
| Cartagena | Water | 0.50* | 2.00 | % Volume |
| Cartagena | Water | 0.50* | 1.50 | % Volume |
Related: FOBAS: Cat fines plagued Singapore off-spec bunkers in April
Related: INSIGHT: Off-spec issues reveal 'missing piece' of Singapore bunker supply chain
Photo credit: Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore
Published: 18 May, 2018
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