This is a legacy page. Please click here to view the latest version.
Thu 9 Feb 2017 07:58

WSS urges operators to perform onboard fuel tests


Onboard tests enable crews to take preventative measures before fuel issues become critical, highlights WSS manager.



There are a host of issues, which can arise with both traditional heavy fuels and modern low-sulphur distillates that, if left unchecked, cause significant problems in the engine room.

Water content is a common problem for both fuels, but there are also specific issues associated with the two distinct fuel types - as Jonas Ostlund, Product Marketing Manager, Oil, at Wilhelmsen Ships Service (WSS), explains.

"Heavy fuels are prone to problems with stability and the ominous catalytic fines that wear down engines, even in cases where they are within recommended levels. Whereas marine diesel fuels see an increased risk of microbial contamination and biofouling, along with storage stability and lubricity issues."

Unfortunately, bunkering on-spec fuel is of no consequence, Oslund asserts.

"Many of these inherent issues with fuel do go unnoticed and unattended, as they are not covered by standard fuel specifications. For example, DNV's 2015 report showed that the presence of the biofuel component, which increases the risk of bacterial contamination in fuels, was increasing year-on-year and is now present in over 11 percent of all on-spec fuel," notes Ostlund.

Testing during bunkering is an obvious antidote to such fuel issues, but even this precaution has its flaws, Ostlund says.

"MARPOL-approved testing during bunkering can highlight these problems, but recent estimates suggest just 20 percent of vessels are performing them. Those that do typically can wait up to six days to get the results back from the lab and by then they've been sailing on that fuel for almost a week."

Based on the processing time for fuel tests, Ostlund believes onboard fuel testing is the "quickest, easiest and most cost-effective solution currently available".

In an effort to enable crews to perform tests themselves and get immediate results, WSS supplies a range of different Unitor-branded test kits, which allows them to intervene and take preventative measures, before any issues with fuel become critical.

Though acknowledging that owners and operators are loathed to take on any additional costs in the current climate, Ostlund is adamant that onboard testing is essential.

"For just a couple of hundred dollars a year you can drastically minimise the operational risks we've sadly all become too accustomed to," adds Oslund.


Brazil flag. Petrobras extends marine fuel advance sales period to 20 days  

Brazilian firm extends booking window for bunker purchases from 15 to 20 days.

Stream Marine Training logo. Stream Marine Training calls for fuel-specific safety standards  

Maritime training provider says generic alternative fuel guidelines are insufficient for crew safety.

Burando Energies appoints new board of directors. Burando Energies appoints new board to drive energy transition growth  

Rotterdam-based energy company forms four-member leadership team, including new CEO Ruben Blok.

Baleària’s fully electric intercontinental ferry. AYK Energy secures contract for world's first fully electric intercontinental ferries  

Battery provider to power Baleària's zero-emission ferries between Spain and Morocco.

Nacho de Miguel – Head of Alternative Fuels & Sustainability. Peninsula executive to speak at Americas LNG Summit panel on bunkering trends  

Nacho de Miguel will discuss global LNG bunkering developments at October conference in Louisiana.

Gasum’s LNG bunkering vessel Coralius. Gasum seeks sales manager for maritime LNG and LBG operations in Hamburg  

Nordic energy company recruits for German office to expand sustainable marine fuel business.

SEA-LNG highlights emissions reductions in LNG-powered shipping. SEA-LNG claims LNG emissions cuts ahead of IMO meeting  

Coalition says methane slip reductions and biomethane growth support decarbonisation pathway.

IPCO Power’s FID Improver. Goltens and IPCO Power partner on fuel system optimisation solutions  

Partnership combines homogenisation technology with global engineering services to help shipowners achieve efficiency gains.

Demonstration vessel REIMEI. Japanese consortium achieves 98% methane slip reduction in LNG vessel trials  

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Kanadevia, and Yanmar exceed target in onboard demonstration.

De Wit Bunkering obtains ISCC certification. De Wit Bunkering secures ISCC certification under RED III directive  

Dutch bunker supplier obtains renewable energy certification for traceable, sustainable fuel supply chain operations.


↑  Back to Top