Singapore to enhance testing for bunker fuel quality assurance from 1 June

Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) Chief Executive Teo Eng Dih on Tuesday (20 February) said enhanced testing measures for marine fuel batches will be implemented from 1 June 2024.

Following a contaminated bunker fuel delivery incident involving more than 200 vessels in 2022, an Industry Expert Group (IEG) co-chaired by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and Singapore Shipping Association was formed since 2022 to study measures to strengthen quality assurance and avoid contaminated bunker fuel from being supplied in the Port of Singapore.

Globally, contaminated fuels have caused vessels to experience handling and safety issues such as loss of propulsion.

Taking into account literature reviews, past cases, IEG’s recommendations and industry feedback such as from the International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA) and International Council on Combustion Engines (CIMAC), enhanced testing measures will be implemented. 

To ensure cost effectiveness, ease of administration and system efficiencies, these measures will be implemented upstream, rather than for every delivery.

From 1 June 2024, bunker suppliers in Port of Singapore must ensure that:

• Residual & bio-residual bunker fuel do not contain Chlorinated Organic Compounds (COC) above 50mg/kg, & free from inorganic acids. COC can be tested using the EN 14077 accredited test method, while inorganic acids can use the ASTM D664 accredited test method as prescribed in ISO 8217.
• Distillate and bio-distillate bunker marine fuel must be free of inorganic acids which can be tested using the ASTM D664 test method as prescribed in ISO 8217.
• Residual marine fuels are free from polystyrene, polypropylene & polymethacrylate. These can be tested for by filtration, microscopic examination, & Fourier-Transform Infrared spectroscopy analysis.

The test results for COC and inorganic acids, together with the Strong Acid Number (SAN) and Total Acid Number (TAN) will be reported in the “Certificate of Quality” (COQ) provided to receiving vessels. For the polymers, bunker suppliers must maintain test records which indicate the fuels are free of them.

“MPA will continue working with agencies and stakeholders to enhance polymer testing capabilities & establish standardised testing,” Eng added. 

For marine fuel blended using batches of different fuel or feedstock, the respective tests should be carried out after blending, and before being bunkered in the Port of Singapore, as the COQ reflects the fuel prior to loading the bunker tanker.

These enhanced testing will supplement existing instruments used in the Port of Singapore, such as mass flow meters and digital bunkering, and inform the development of standards for safe & efficient bunkering of alternative marine fuels.

As a global bunkering hub, Singapore remains committed to maintaining high quality assurance of fuels delivered, and making bunker deliveries more transparent, efficient and reduce overall business costs to better serve shipowners, charterers and ships of the world.

Manifold Times previously reported MPA issued a Port Marine Circular No 3 of 2024 regarding the implementation of enhanced testing parameters for marine fuel batches intended to be delivered as bunkers in the port of Singapore in addition to the existing quality assurance measures:

Related: Singapore: MPA tightens testing parameters to reduce contaminated bunker fuels
Related: MPA: Glencore and PetroChina supplied contaminated bunkers to about 200 ships in the Port of Singapore
Related: Singapore set to become first port in the world to debut electronic bunker delivery notes
Related: MPA Chief Executive: Port of Singapore begins digital bunkering initiative today 

Photo credit: Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore
Published: 21 February, 2024