After the latest technical update on VLSFO HSFO price differential, Viswa Lab has been in the fore front of handling VLSFO fuel quality and its related problems.
Reports on VLSFO usage
We want to bring to your attention some of the problem cases that have been reported after VLSFO usage.
- We have seen an increased number of VLSFO usage since October 2019 indicating that the Maritime industry has already accepted the challenge and is taking the responsibility of IMO 2020 regulations head on.
- As of December 2019, majority of the samples we tested are of VLSFOs and MGOs.
Operational Problems Reported to Viswa Lab
As the uptake of VLSFOs continues, we are seeing an increase in fuel related problems. The below table shows the list of issues reported to us in December.
| Case | Supply Date | Prob reported date | Port | Problems Experienced | Root Cause |
| 1 | 6‐Dec‐19 | 27‐Dec‐19 | Antwerp | Vessel has reported trouble of Purifier with heavy sludge formation inside purifiers only | High sedimen |
| 2 | 7‐Oct‐19 | 17‐Dec‐19 | Gibraltar | Fuel frozen in the tank | High pour point |
| 3 | 5‐Nov‐19 | 10‐Dec‐19 | Everingen‐ Netherlands | Heavy sludge accumulation one of the purifier shut down on heavy vibrations. Due to this, internal parts of the purifier damaged | In progress |
| 4 | 14‐Nov‐19 | 9‐Dec‐19 | Ghent‐ Belgium | 8 hrs of purifying of new VLSFO 0.5% found excessive quantity of paraffin | Unstable fuel |
| 5 | 30‐Oct‐19 | 12‐Dec‐19 | Galveston‐TX | Sludge at the purifier | In progress |
| 6 | 2‐Dec‐19 | 14‐Dec‐19 | Rio De Janeiro‐Brazil | Excessive liner wear in all units | In progress |
| 7 | 17‐Dec‐19 | 20‐Dec‐19 | Balboa – Panama | No.3 HFO Purifier got problem with sludge accumulated inside, was not de‐sludging. | Possible incompatibility |
| 8 | 14‐Nov‐19 | 9‐Dec‐19 | Long Beach | Discharge port for No.1 VLSFO purifier blocked by oil sludge | Possible stability issues |
| 9 | NA | NA | NA | Premature liner wear‐ every three months | In progress |
| 10 | 6‐Dec‐19 | 19‐Dec‐19 | Long Beach | Fuel frozen in the tank | Wax deposition |
| 11 | 15‐Nov‐19 | 27‐Dec‐19 | Antwerp | FO purifier getting choked frequently. slowly turning in to hard asphalt | In progress |
| 12 | 2‐Dec‐19 | 24‐Dec‐19 | Istanbul | Vessel found higher sludge formation | High sediment |
| 13 | 5‐Nov‐19 | 24‐Dec‐19 | Rotterdam | Sludge is like bitumen clogged drain pipe and space around bowl body | In progress |
| 14 | 3‐Nov‐19 | 22‐Dec‐19 | Yeosu‐Korea | Excess sludge generation in purifier and Piston ring breakage in ME | In progress |
These 14 issues have been reported in month of December alone (the month is not over yet) and the majority of these have purifier choking issues. We have highlighted in red the crucial and serious cases being investigated. These vessels are experiencing premature liner wear after VLSFO usage.
Please see below some pictures shared by Ship crew.
To assist with questions and issues related to 2020 fuels Viswa has started and in‐house ‘Working Group’. You can reach us at wgfuels2020@theviswagroup.com
Please do not hesitate to contact if you would like our assistance.
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Source: Viswa Group
