Image credit: Quadrise Fuels International

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Quadrise Fuels International, the developer of MSAR emulsion technology and fuel, discussed on Thursday a number of developments in the marine sector that it believes will be positive for the business.

On the issue of exhaust gas cleaning systems, or 'scrubbers', Quadrise noted that there had been an increase in "momentum" on the installation of scrubbers acrosss all major ship segments, including tankers, bulkers and container ships, in addition to the cruise and ferry markets - where there has historically been a significant installed base.

Quadrise also posited that the economic case for using MSAR was improving due to the spread between high-sulphur heavy fuel oil (HFO) and low-sulphur fuels "widening significantly" in the futures market up to 2020 and beyond.

This, the company argues, reinforces the economic benefits of scrubber installation - in combination with MSAR - versus the use of fuels with a sulphur content of less than 0.5 percent when the new global cap becomes effective in January 2020.

Additionally, Quadrise noted that it was seeing higher demand from ship owners looking for term high-sulphur fuel supply contracts aligned with scrubber installation, which could provide an opportunity for the supply of MSAR to consumers and key hubs.

Discussing its business relatonship with Cepsa, which produces MSAR fuel at its San Roque refinery, Quadrise said Cepsa "remains supportive of Quadrise" and recently hosted a refinery visit from a prospective Middle Eastern customer.

The prospective client is said to have also travelled to the UK to visit Quadrise's research facility (QRF) and witness MSAR being produced from its own residues.

The facility has now been relocated to new premises, which the company says has "significantly reduced rental costs without any impact on the work that QRF does to support development and operations".