The following article is part of pre-event coverage for the upcoming Singapore International Bunkering Conference and Exhibition (SIBCON) 2020; where Manifold Times is an official media partner:
Analysis of big data by international fuel testing and inspection company Veritas Petroleum Services (VPS) have uncovered a link between a spike of low flashpoint off-spec cases for marine gas oil (MGO) and Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) developments.
In May, VPS identified 95 occasions where MGO bunker samples were below the 60°C flash point requirement as mandated by the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), according to Dr Malcolm Cooper, VPS Group Managing Director.
“This was investigated due to the serious health and safety risk posed to the ship’s crew and the non-compliance with the SOLAS Convention,” he told Manifold Times.
VPS graph showing trend of % of low flash-point off-spec MGO
Dr Cooper noted governments introducing Covid-19 related lockdown measures earlier in 2020 to limit spread of the virus – a decision which adversely affected global aviation and land transportation industries.
The development resulted in a significant surplus of road and aviation transport fuels on the market and also a decline of prices for the fuels (as shown by Refinitiv data below).
This provided commercial impetus for road and aviation fuels, both of which have lower flashpoints than MGO, to be blended into bunkers; thereby increasing the occurrences of low flashpoint off-spec cases for MGO.
Further, the current low prices for road and aviation fuels in September could mean another increase of flashpoint off-spec cases for MGO when players start introducing the products back into the bunker stream, he suggests.
Refinitiv price data for jet fuel, diesel and gasoline
“The Covid-19 pandemic has clearly had an extremely damaging effect on human health but it has also substantially impacted marine fuel supply chains and deliveries and hence product quality,” explained Dr Cooper.
“It is likely that some of this surplus diesel and kerosene has reached the marine fuel supply chain given the complex route from refinery to final product.
“By applying data analytics, there is a clear correlation between the spike of low flashpoint off-spec bunker fuels with the availability of road and aviation fuel.
“The application of data analytics to good quality data provides a useful insight into how VPS is now providing a commercial offering to the market capable of helping the user to optimise fuel costs and greenhouse gas emissions.”
Photo credit: Veritas Petroleum Services, Refinitiv
Published: 23 September, 2020
HSFO prices may start coming under pressure as early as Q2 2019 due to IMO 2020 becoming more pronounced.
Niche and major volume sectors outside LNG carrier segment supporting current growth of LNG-fuelled fleet.
Buyers may wish to consider placing seller on notice of potential claims arising due to fuel issues.
There may be more than meets the eye from Elhiblu 1 incident, suggests maritime risk agency Windward.
Several residual fuel samples bunkered against RMK700 grade exceeded viscosity at ARA ports.
‘Questions certainly need to be asked about what took place,’ Managing Analyst tells Manifold Times.
Seeking bunker claim from 13 unpaid invoices; seven under Term Sales Contracts entered on 30 April 2020 and six under Spot Contracts, according to court documents obtained by Manifold Times.
The representative was providing clarification to a query from Manifold Times when asked if the bunkering licenses of the Hin Leong Trading affiliated company have been permanently revoked.
Patrizia Cosulich becomes first bunker tanker in Singapore to undertake its Mass Flow Meter extension test using the Master Mass Flow Meter, learns bunkering publication Manifold Times.
Bunker claims totalling SGD 628,000 for 88 deliveries of marine gas oil between the period of 7 February 2020 until 15 April 2020, according to documents obtained by Manifold Times.
Event welcomed over 1,100 attendees from 42 countries; delegates visited virtual booths about 4,800 times; while around 5,800 connections were made, according to data from organiser Informa.
Bunker suppliers and bunker craft operators may choose to carry out meter verification using either existing MIMO method OR with the use of a Master Meter.
