Lintec reported that 13.7 percent of all samples it tested exceed at least one parameter requirement in 2003. This represents a 4.5 percent increase in off-spec results over 2002. And Lintec believes that deteriorating marine fuel quality is a long-term global trend. In the latest issue of its Testing Times newsletter, Lintec says: "Marine fuel quality is likely to decrease further in years to come. However, Lintec also makes clear that an off-spec result does not necessarily mean there is a critical problem. Detailing its analysis, Lintec says only 3 per cent of its test results in 2003 represented a problem that could potentially cause significant operational difficulties.