Sign up
Log in Sign up
This is a legacy page. Please click here to view the latest version.
Thu 17 Sep 2015, 00:01 GMT

Cepsa and Quadrise to supply alternative marine fuel in trials with Maersk


Trials will see fuel supplied from the Gibraltar-San Roque refinery following the installation of an MSAR manufacturing unit.

Spain's Cepsa has signed an agreement with alternative fuel supplier Quadrise and shipping firm Maersk to trial Marine MSAR - a product that is being marketed as a lower cost and potentially environmentally safer alternative to heavy fuel oil.

The trials are scheduled to begin in the first half of 2016, and will see the fuel supplied from the Gibraltar-San Roque refinery to Maersk ships following the installation of an MSAR manufacturing unit at the site. Installation and operation permits are currently being sought for the new unit, CEPSA said today in a statement.

The trial program is expected to run until the end of 2016, or early 2017 when engine tests on the fuel are due to be completed. Subsequently, the sale of the fuel from the refinery would be made following regulatory and commercial approvals.

"We are delighted to have this opportunity to meet the fuel requirements of a leading partner in the marine industry with Maersk using a pioneering technology from Quadrise. Cepsa has been a leader in marine fuel technology for many years and this agreement will help to consolidate our position," said Federico Molina, head of Cepsa's Refining Unit.

Cepsa is a supplier of bunker fuel operating in South Europe, the Canary Islands, Central America, Africa and the Middle East with installations in Spain, Morocco, Fujairah and the Panama Canal. Last year, Cepsa launched DMB 0.1%, a low-sulphur marine fuel, to meet new Sulphur Emission Control Area (SECA) standards.

Quadrise has developed its MSAR fuel to provide an alternative for shipping, refining and power generation markets. Its oil-in-water emulsion fuel technology is said to make heavy hydrocarbon residues easier to use by producing a lower viscosity oil mixed with water. Alternative fuel emulsions, which are water in oil, are produced from heavy fuel oil. By emulsifying refinery residues, as opposed to heavy fuel oil, the refiner is able to create more value, and also a lower-priced fuel, by selling the distillates that would traditionally be blended into its heavy fuel oil.

Maersk   Quadrise   Test or trial   Gibraltar  Spain  Algeciras (ES)  Gibraltar (GI) 
American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) logo. ABS introduces nuclear-ready notation for marine and offshore assets  

The classification society has released what it describes as an industry-first notation to support future nuclear conversion of vessels and offshore assets.
AiP handover ceremony for NEXTGEN Energy Hub (NGEH) design. ABS grants approval in principle for Seatrium’s NEXTGEN Energy Hub design  

The hub concept integrates ammonia bunkering, power generation and electric vessel charging in a single unit.
Jumbo Maritime crew aboard vessel. Jumbo orders two methanol-ready L-Class heavy lift vessels from Dajin Heavy Industry  

Dutch heavy lift specialist Jumbo signs newbuilding contract for two 25,000-dwt vessels.
China flag. Zhoushan completes first bonded bunker operation at Majishan port area  

The operation marks full fuel supply coverage across all general cargo terminals in Zhoushan's port system.
US dollar banknotes. Port of Long Beach launches $1m methanol bunkering challenge for oceangoing vessels  

A $1m prize aims to kick-start commercial methanol bunkering at one of North America's busiest ports.
Core Power, Athlos Energy, Deon Policy Institute and ABS logos. Greece floating nuclear study finds no fundamental barriers to implementation  

A PESTLE assessment of floating nuclear power plants in Greece identifies framework gaps, not feasibility barriers.
Northern Pathliner alongside Bergen LNG vessel. Molgas completes LNG cool-down and bunkering for Northern Pathliner at Northern Lights terminal in Norway  

Operation carried out at Øygarden facility, with K Line and Integr8 Fuels in the supply chain.
Rendering of a G2 Ocean OHGC vessel. G2 Ocean expands fleet with six future-fuel ready gantry crane vessels  

Open hatch specialist adds vessels and jet sail technology as part of a broad fleet renewal programme.
CMA CGM Adventure vessel at Port of Mombasa. LNG-powered CMA CGM Adventure makes first call at the Port of Mombasa  

Kenya Ports Authority receives its first large LNG-fuelled container vessel.
Liam Blackmore, Lloyd's Register. Maritime trio shapes IMO safety guidelines for ammonia as marine fuel  

Real-world operational experience feeds directly into new IMO ammonia fuel safety framework.

↑  Back to Top


 Recommended