The latest report from Lloyd’s Register’s (LR) Fuel Oil Bunker Analysis and Advisory Service (FOBAS) reveals a series of worrying developments in the bunkering industry.
Off-spec fuels remained a persistent challenge over the first six months of this year with the most frequent issues including excess sulphur, water, sediment content, as well as stability problems, elevated catalytic fines, sodium contamination, and low flashpoint distillate fuels which pose extra risks in an engine room environment.
However, of more concern is that the classification society’s latest FOBAS publication reveals that even some fuels that have passed the ISO 8217 compliance testing process have demonstrated poor stability or compatibility. Some also contained non-conventional blend components that can only be identified through more advanced testing procedures.
Citing several incidents during March and April, in which vessels reported bunker problems after taking fuel on board at an unnamed bunkering hub, forensic analysis revealed that many of the fuels contained high concentrations of Estonian shale oil, sometimes up to 10-15%.
Shale oil is recognised by the ISO standard as an acceptable blend component but the FOBAS investigation found that higher concentration can cause fuel instability and a range of operational issues affecting fuel components onboard.
The report concludes that more rigorous testing will be required as marine fuels continue to diversify and new risks occur that are harder to spot through standard routine compliance testing. More emphasis on fuel stability, compatibility, and understanding fuel composition will be critical to avoid operational disruption, the report warned.
Commenting on the findings, LR’s Murray Kirkwood, fuel specialist consultant, said: “The findings from our latest report show that fuel quality risk is evolving. The challenge is no longer simply identifying fuels that fail specification. Increasingly, operators are encountering fuels that meet the required limits but still create operational difficulties once they are stored, handled and used on board.
“As fuel blending becomes more complex, the distinction that matters is increasingly not between on-spec and off-spec fuel, but between fuels that are operationally resilient and fuels that are operationally fragile. Understanding that difference is becoming essential for shipowners and operators,” he added.