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ExxonMobil Marine Fuels & Lubricants has announced the launch of a new marine fuel designed to help ship operators comply with the 0.10 percent sulphur limit set to be introduced in Emission Control Areas (ECA) from January 1, 2015.

ExxonMobil Premium Heavy Distillate Marine ECA 50 (HDME 50) is said to be a new category of marine fuel formulated to meet the 2015 ECA sulphur limit and to help marine engineers safely and efficiently operate their engines and boilers.

In a statement, the oil major said: "ExxonMobil Premium HDME 50 offers performance benefits associated with both marine gas oil (MGO) and heavy fuel oil (HFO). The fuel contains a low sulphur content associated with MGO, and has the higher flashpoint and lower volatility properties typically found in HFO. These characteristics enable marine operators to comply with the upcoming sulphur cap and to reduce the risk of engine and boiler damage.

"The higher viscosity of ExxonMobil Premium HDME 50 makes storage and handling the fuel on board similar to HFO. With the fuel having to be heated, the risk of thermal shock to engine components is reduced during switchovers when entering and leaving an ECA. Thermal shock can result in fuel pumps seizures and engine shutdowns."

Prior to its introduction, ExxonMobil Premium HDME 50 was tested with shipping and logistic group Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics and said to be suitable for use in main and auxiliary engines and marine type boilers.

Following field trials, the new fuel was said to have received no objection letters from MAN Diesel & Turbo for use in MAN B&W two-stroke and MAN B&W Holeby genset designs, provided MAN Diesel & Turbo’s specific engine type guidelines are followed.

"We have developed and launched ExxonMobil Premium HDME 50, a new category of low sulphur fuel, to help marine operators meet the increasingly stringent ECA rules beginning in Jan. 2015," said Aaron Cobb, director, ExxonMobil Marine Fuels and Lubricants. "ExxonMobil Premium HDME 50 complements our existing MGO offer and enables operators to choose a fuel that meets their specific requirements."

ExxonMobil Premium HDME 50 is already in use by a range of vessel operators. It is available from Antwerp via barge delivery for vessels operating in the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) region. In addition, ExxonMobil continues to offer MGO at more than 40 ports worldwide.