- ExxonMobil to offer a new EMF.5 range of low-sulfur Engineered Marine Fuels to help ship operators comply with the IMO global sulfur cap 2020.
- Part of the EMF.5 range Low-sulfur fuels announced so far are compatible with each other, with bunkering, storage and handling best practice guidance are followed.
- EMF.5 fuels meets the ISO 8217-2017 specification and have passed ExxonMobil’s fit-for-use test and will help operators to operate efficiently with 0.5% sulfur fuels.
- ExxonMobil has also developed a newly formulated 40BN cylinder oil, Mobilgard 540, which is specifically designed to work with low-sulfur fuels.
According to an article published in Platts, ExxonMobil is ready to offer a new range of low-sulfur Engineered Marine Fuels to help ship operators comply with the International Maritime Organization’s global sulfur limit rule for 2020.
Compliance not at the expense of fuel quality
Luca Volta, marine fuels venture manager at ExxonMobil, said that compliance should not come at the expense of fuel quality.
Luca added that ExxonMobil’s EMF.5 range delivers assurances on both to the marine industry.
IMO global sulphur cap
The IMO will cap global sulfur content in marine fuels at 0.5% starting January 1, 2020, compared with the current 3.5%.
This applies outside the designated emission control areas where the limit is already 0.1%.
Shipowners will have to either burn cleaner, more expensive fuels or install scrubber units for burning high sulfur fuel oil.
Announced fuel oils are compatible
ExxonMobil said that the company’s low-sulfur fuels announced so far, which form part of the EMF.5 range, are compatible with each other, provided that the below are followed:
- bunkering,
- storage and
- handling best practice guidance
In addition to meeting the ISO 8217-2017 specification, EMF.5 fuels have also passed ExxonMobil’s fit-for-use assessments, it said.
0.5% sulfur fuel switch
This combination of characteristics will help ensure that ship operators can continue to operate their main engines, auxiliary engines and boilers safely and efficiently when they switch to 0.5% sulfur fuels, as a major quality problem could have very significant negative consequences, it added.
Mike Noorman, head of fuels technology at ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company said, ExxonMobil has also developed proprietary methods for modifying fuel composition to improve quality characteristics, such as
- combustion,
- stability,
- waxing and
- compatibility
Newly formulated cylinder oil
In addition, ExxonMobil has also developed a newly formulated 40BN cylinder oil, Mobilgard 540, which is specifically designed to work with low-sulfur fuels, the company said.
A lubricant’s base number, or BN, measures its potential to neutralize the acidic products formed during combustion.
The new lubricant will be available across the company’s global port network and via its distribution network, it added.
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Source: Platts
