Image: Bomin

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Bomin Group, a global physical supplier and trader of marine fuels, announced on Thursday that it is now delivering ultra-low-sulphur fuel oil (ULSFO) to vessels calling in the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) region.

The ULSFO product has a maximum sulphur content of 0.1%, and therefore complies with MARPOL Annex VI regulations in current designated Emissions Control Areas (ECAs), as well as the impending global 0.5% sulphur limit, which will come into force in 2020.

The typical specifications of Bomin's ULSFO in the ARA region are as follows:



Deliveries will be carried out by the certified barges which Bomin employs in the region. The five state-of-the-art vessels - all of which have fast pumping rates to maximise speed throughout the delivery process - are operated out of Antwerp, but also support customers who require bunkers in Rotterdam, Ghent, Flushing, and other ports across the ARA region. The supplier's ARA barges are also equipped with mass flow meters.

In addition to ULSFO, Bomin provides a range of other products in the ARA region, including IFO 380, DMA 0.1% marine gas oil (MGO), DMA 86/0.1% MGO, and 180 centistoke (cSt) as well as other lower-viscosity fuels.

Angela Beyens, Commercial Manager, Bomin Belgium, commented: "We are pleased that we can offer our customers a high-quality product which is not only compliant with the current ECA rules, but also the upcoming 2020 regulations. Bomin is committed to working in partnership with its our customers to provide the highest level of service standards, maximizing operational and cost efficiencies, as well as ensuring the delivery of quality products where our customers need them."

Jan Christensen, Head of Global Bunker Operations, Bomin Group, remarked: "ARA is one of the most important regions for our customers, with real demand for a full spectrum of quality products and the provision of ULSFO will ensure that we can continue to provide the energy they need to compliantly fuel all their operations."

Fuel system transition

Bomin notes that shipowners and operators will need to prepare to transition their fuel system from 3.5% sulphur to 0.5% prior to the January 1, 2020 deadline.

Thus, in the second half of 2019, the bunker firm says shipowners would benefit economically from consuming 0.1% fuel, such as 0.1% ULSFO, to clean their high-sulphur fuel systems - rather than cleaning, or needing to dry-dock pre-2020 - and ensure compliance with 0.5% sulphur in 2020.

"Without cleaning or conducting several voyages on 0.1% fuel, shipowners risk not being compliant in time," Bomin warned.