Lintec confirms Fujairah Bunker Problems
Major fuel oil testing company Lintec says a number of recent fuel samples
from bunker stems taken in Fujairah have tested positive for contamination
by chlorinated cleaning solvents.
These solvents have the potential to cause major engine damage, such as
damaged fuel valves and sticking of engine fuel pumps, plungers and barrels.
In some cases the damage to the engine may even leave a vessel immobilised.
Lintec is now providing investigative analysis using state of the art
instrumentation for the major clients affected in order to ensure the
integrity of the client's bunker supplies.
Removal of the industrial chemicals will require reprocessing most probably
by primary distillation. The exact mode of reprocessing will depend on the
quantity of chemicals present.
In the longer term Lintec is looking at ways to routinely screen samples
from ports around the world to protect owners in its fuel testing programme
from this type and other contaminants, which currently fall outside of
routine testing parameters.
