- Standardisation body aims to end lack of clarity over low-sulphur bunkers’ viscosity and stability by launching IMO 2020 specification for marine fuels
- ISO informed that it has published the ‘ISO/PAS 23263:2019 Petroleum products — Fuels (class F) — Considerations for fuel suppliers and users regarding marine fuel quality in view of the implementation of maximum 0,50 % sulphur in 2020’.
IMO’s long awaited Publicly Available Specification (PAS) for IMO2020 grade bunkers has been published by ISO, reports Ship & Bunker.
ISO 8217
PAS 23263:2019 “Considerations for fuel suppliers and users regarding marine fuel quality in view of the implementation of maximum 0.50 % sulfur in 2020“ is the product of IMO’s ISO 8217 working group.
As has been discussed at length, no revision to the ISO 8217 standard for marine fuel is being made ahead of IMO 2020 despite the fact the new 0.50% sulfur cap has prompted suppliers to develop a new class of bunker fuels commonly being referred to as VLSFO.
Instead, the PAS describes how the current ISO 8217 standard, and particularly the latest ISO 8217:2017 edition, can be applied to the new fuels.
Technical specification on fuel characteristics
“It confirms that ISO 8217 specifications still apply to fuels meeting the 0.50% sulphur limit,” the International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA) says of the new PAS.
The specifications provide technical advice on fuel characteristics that might apply to particular fuels for
- kinematic viscosity,
- cold flow properties,
- stability,
- ignition characteristic and
- catalyst fines.
In addition, it provides information on how to consider compatibility between fuels, including test methods for checking whether fuels are compatible.
One of the most notable aspects of the new IMO 2020 grade fuels is that it is already clear that suppliers will produce fuels using many different recipes.
This means VLSFOs are going to exhibit a much wider range of characteristics than the industry’s current go to fuel, IFO380, that is typically sold simply against the RMG380 specification.
Testing VLSFO to meet Global cap
“Fuel testing agencies have, between them, already tested thousands of samples of VLSFO produced to meet the 0.50% sulphur limit, and have reported considerable variations in viscosity and density,” IBIA explains.
IBIA also said, “Viscosity in the tested samples is said to typically range from 30 cSt to 380 cSt. A few samples have been below/above that range with lows of 6-7 and highs of up to 500 cSt reported, but these are rare.”
“Density has been seen in a range of 850 to almost 998, with most above 900 kg/m3 which puts them firmly into the Table 2 (RM) specifications.”
Possible aftermath of IMO 2020
So while all 0.50% sulfur fuels will need to meet ISO 8217 specifications, some will best be described using DM specs and others one of the RM specs – RMA 10, RMB 30, RME 180 etc.
Indeed, IBIA predicts one consequence of IMO 2020 could be an uptick in DMB-grade fuels.
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Source: Ship & Bunker
Good day.
Thank you for the information, just a quick query: On our gazetted specification we have ISO 8217 – 2012 for marine fuel specifications. With the 0.50% sulphur limit do we have to change it in our gazette or it will be the same? If it will change what will be the applicable Specification/Code of Practice? You may reply to Immanuel.Nghishoongele@mme.gov.na
Thank you and greetings from Windhoek, Namibia.