Image: GP Global

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GP Global has performed its first delivery of low-sulphur fuel oil (LSFO) in Fujairah.

The bunker seller carried out the maiden operation using its 6,000-tonne bunker barge, the GPB1, which is based at the key UAE bunkering port.

Anil Keswani, Head of Bunkering, East of Suez at GP Global Group, remarked: "We are thankful to the authorities of the Port of Fujairah and our partners for their continued trust in us, which has enabled us to undertake the first bunkering of LSFO, just in time as the IMO 2020 takes effect next year.

"We are committed to supporting our partners and clients in meeting specifications, which will contribute a long way to securing a cleaner marine environment."

GP Global's GPB1 is capable of delivering a range of residual and distillate marine fuels. In addition to LSFO, the vessel is able to supply low-sulphur marine gas oil (MGO LS), 380 centistoke (cSt) and 180 cSt fuel in the UAE.

Moreover, the company has three further barges at Fujairah, of which the largest - GBP2 - will be dedicated exclusively for LSFO to meet the growing requirements in the region, expected from mid-October.

PAS 23263

GP Global's latest milestone follows last week's long-awaited release of a Publicly Available Specification (PAS) by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) relating to marine fuels in 2020.

The ISO/PAS 23263:2019 'Petroleum products -- Fuels (class F) -- Considerations for fuel suppliers and users regarding marine fuel quality in view of the implementation of maximum 0.5% sulfur in 2020' was launched to address quality considerations in view of the implementation of the 0.5 percent sulphur cap in 2020 and the range of fuels that will be placed on the market as a result.

The document defines general requirements that apply to all 0.5 sulphur fuels and confirms the applicability of ISO 8217 for those products.

It also gives technical considerations for kinematic viscosity, cold flow properties, stability, ignition characteristics and catalyst fines.

Additionally, ISO/PAS 23263:2019 provides considerations on the compatibility between fuels and additional information on the current ISO 8217:2017 standard.

Existing ISO 8217 specifications, including ISO 8217:2017, are still set to apply in 2020, the International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA) stated last week.

The industry body also clarified that PAS 23263 "would not introduce any new specifications but rather help explain how ISO 8217 will continue to apply".