Bunker Buyers Should Revise Specs to Comply

Owners and charterers will need to revise the text of their fuel purchasing specifications after IMO's Marpol Annex VI enters into force on May 19th, warns fuel testing agency, Lintec Testing Services.

Almost all bunker buyers specify that their fuel must comply with ISO 8217. But Marpol Annex VI puts into statute some new requirements that are not covered by the standard. Lintec advises bunker buyers to expressly specify the need for Annex VI compliance in addition to the standard ISO 8217 specifications.

John Dixon, Lintec's managing director said: "After Annex VI comes into force, owners and charterers need to be aware that the fuel they purchase must comply with ISO 8217 AND with Marpol Annex VI. Lintec advises owners and charterers to make that fact clear to the supplier when they are purchasing their bunker fuel, so there can be no room for misunderstanding." Marpol Annex VI makes several requirements that are not covered by ISO 8217, including a global requirement that bunker fuel should have a sulphur content limit of 4.5 per cent, and that the supplier needs to provide a bunker delivery note specifying sulphur content, density and viscosity.

"A new updated ISO 8217 standard should be ready by the end of 2005. Hopefully it will include Annex VI requirements. But in the meantime, buyers should make sure they are getting the right fuel. And the only way to do that is to specify it. When buyers order ISO 8217 fuel, they need to go a step further ensure suppliers provide fuel that is Annex VI compliant."