Manifold Times | FUJCON 2021: Sulphur off-specs in bunker fuel samples more than doubled on year in 2021, observes VPS

International fuel testing and inspection firm VPS has recorded a leap in the variety of off-spec bunker fuel samples – notably for 0.50% sulphur content material – in the present year so far, observes the Managing Director AMEA at VPS.

“Global sulphur non-compliance stood at about 3% for final year and this quantity elevated to about 7% for 2021,” Captain Rahul Choudhuri advised delegates on the twelfth Fujairah International Bunkering and Fuel Oil Virtual Forum (FUJCON 2021).

“I imagine the problem of the marginally off-spec, that’s the 0.51% to 0.53% sulphur, will proceed to plague this business. This is as a result of a overwhelming majority of those fuels are being blended near the restrict –with sulphur content material in about 50% of bunker samples examined throughout the 0.47% to 0.50% proportion vary.

“However, it’s price noting that whereas the possibilities of getting increased non-compliance to date is actually prevalent in Europe and America; the sulphur compliance in the Middle East is often good. This is optimistic information for Fujairah, though some off-spec sulphur has been noticed in Dubai, Jeddah and Kuwait.”

“So there’s a problem for the business as to how that is dealt with. Do we’d like tighter rules the place, for instance, fuels with more than 0.47% sulphur content material can’t be equipped? Or will we enable the market this flexibility after which take this danger?”

Captain Choudhuri additional referred to VPS check knowledge which confirmed a rising development for bunker fuel off-specs this year; the corporate encountered 12% off-spec circumstances in 2021, in comparison with 8% off-spec circumstances final year.

“The majority of off-specs VPS detected in checks had been from bunker fuel samples lifted at European ports,” he shares.

“In reality, Europe stands out at more than 30% of that quantity [12% of off-spec cases in 2021], adopted by South America, North America, and Russia. Whereas, off-specs circumstances in the Middle East and Asia are extraordinarily low.”

Captain Choudhuri notes flashpoint non-compliance to be amongst points discovered inside these off-spec bunker fuel samples.

“In phrases of statutory compliance, the flashpoint of not much less than 60°C for marine fuels has been set by the IMO and the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS),” he states.

“Flashpoint is a crucial measure for sustaining security in transport and the business has a duty to maintain it that means.

“There is a renewed initiative by some members of the maritime business to decrease the flashpoint stage; presumably for industrial causes.

“Trying to scale back this flashpoint stage will likely be tantamount to happening the slippery slope of diminished security on board ships – and this should not be allowed.”

A sequence of interviews carried out by Manifold Times as a part of pre-event protection for FUJCON 2021 could be discovered beneath:

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Related: INTERVIEW: National Bank of Fujairah discusses challenges, risk management in oil and bunkering sectors
Related: INTERVIEW: IMO 2030/2050 marine fuels to be decided by most cost efficient, effective well-to-propeller solution
Related: INTERVIEW: Bunker buying is more than a relationship-based activity; it’s a science, says marine fuels broker
Related: INTERVIEW: 80-90 times YOY growth for Singapore LNG bunkering volumes in 2021, says FueLNG
Related: INTERVIEW: Major ports, including Singapore, to prepare for alternative marine fuels future, says IMO
Related: INTERVIEW: VLSFO bunker contamination could resurface on USD 80 to 90 bbl oil, warns consultant


Photo credit score: Manifold Times

Published: 24 March, 2021

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