Fuel Oil Incompatibility News

Parker Kittiwake is witnessing an increase in demand for onboard fuel compatibility testing.The trend reflects the urgency in the market as shipowners and operators take a more deliberate and proactive approach to mitigating the risks of potential marine fuel oil incompatibility and stability issues associated with the impending 2020 global sulphur cap regulation.With the majority of shipowners expected to opt for very low sulphur fuels of 0.5% or less to achieve compliance, the shipping industry is seeing a rise in new blended fuels appearing on the market.

Ships switch fuel oil from residual fuels to distillate fuels in order to reduce emissions. The Coast Guard expects ships will switch fuel more frequently to comply with new emission reduction regulations. When switching fuel oil, some ships have experienced propulsion losses linked to procedural errors or fuel oil incompatibility. API developed a paper titled “Technical Considerations of Fuel Switching Practices” that discusses problems that lead to propulsion loss while switching fuel. It is available at http://marineinvestigations.us. This document may be useful to vessel owners, operators, and engineers interested in preventing fuel system failures and propulsion casualties while meeting current and future exhaust emission control requirements.