With the IMO 2020 regulation in place, major shipping agencies like BIMCO, ICS, Intertanko, Intercargo etc. are trying their hardest to address potential fuel oil issues. While addressing these issues is a hard task but getting reports from shippers is proving even harder. And with the coronavirus scare gripping the market, there’s less concentration on fuel issues.
Still majority of these shipping agenices have called for detailed reports from shippers in order to better understand fuel issues and address the concern areas, reports Safety4Sea.
Fleet Managers Urged To Share Insights
According to a report published in the Professional Mariner, BIMCO has released a press release in this matter. The press release states:
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) 2020 global sulfur limit for marine fuel oil has now been in force for over one month. BIMCO, ICS, Intercargo and Intertanko are calling on fleet- and vessel managers, as well as technical superintendents, to share their insight and experiences with the new IMO 2020 compliant fuels.
Online Survey Launched for Better Understanding
The four organizations have launched an online survey with the aim to get a greater understanding of the quality of the new fuel oils and possible safety implications of the IMO 2020 sulfur regulation, and encourage shipowners to participate.
Participants are encouraged to provide short answers to 13 questions about their experiences with fuel oil quality since the change to 0.5 sulfur compliant fuel oils.
The survey can be accessed via the following link: https://form.jotform.com/200162453649958
Survey on fuel oil quality and safety
- The survey’s main focus is on problematic properties of the IMO 2020 compliant fuel oil that may lead to problems such as increased sludge discharge, clogging of fuel pipes, preheaters, fuel separators and fuel filters, fuel pumps getting stuck, problems with fuel injection and poor ignition of fuel oil.
- It also focuses on other issues regarding incomplete combustion, wax appearance and increased wear and tear of cylinder liners; all problems that in the end may lead to loss of propulsion and/or black out.
- The purpose of this survey is to collect and collate information on your company’s experiences with fuel oil quality since changing over to 0.50% sulphur compliant fuel oil.
Agencies Interested in Assessing Fuel Oil Quality
The four conductors of this survey are: BIMCO, the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), INTERCARGO and INTERTANKO. We are interested in assessing any fuel oil quality and safety issues related to the new sulphur-compliant fuel oils (max. 0.50% sulphur content). Depending on the outcome of the survey, general information and observations, including any possible trends, from the survey may be submitted to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for further consideration.
- A statistical analysis of the survey result will ensure complete anonymity.
- The questionnaire contains 13 questions and should only take about 5 minutes to complete.
- When you have completed the questionnaire, just click the SUBMIT button to send it. By doing so you allow us to use the information as stated in the confidentiality and data protection management statement below.
Who is this questionnaire relevant to?
This questionnaire is relevant to shore-based personnel such as Fleet Managers, Vessel Managers and Technical Superintendents.
What does regulation 14 of MARPOL Annex VI say?
From 1 January 2020, the sulphur content of any fuel oil used on board ships shall not exceed 0.50% m/m. And while ships are operating within a Sulphur Emission Control Area (SECA), the sulphur content of fuel oil used on board shall not exceed 0.10% m/m. (The limit within SECA’s has been in force since 1 January 2015)
Furthermore, from 1 March 2020 the carriage ban enters into force meaning that, the sulphur content of fuel oil used or carried for use on board a ship shall not exceed 0.50% m/m.
What is VLSFO and ULSFO?
VLSFO stands for Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil either of distillate properties or of residual properties with a sulphur content not exceeding 0.50% m/m.
ULSFO stands for Ultra Low Sulphur Fuel Oil either of distillate properties or of residual properties with a sulphur content not exceeding 0.10% m/m.
What are fuel oil quality issues?
“Fuel quality issues” are the problematic properties of fuel oil that may lead to, among others, increased sludge discharge, clogging of fuel pipes, clogging of preheaters, clogging of fuel separators, clogging of fuel filters, fuel pumps getting stuck, problems with fuel injection, poor ignition of fuel oil, incomplete combustion, wax appearance, increased wear and tear of cylinder liners, that may, in worst cases, result in loss of propulsion and/or black out.
Confidentiality and data protection management of information
- We will use the information you provide for the purposes mentioned above
- We will not pass on your personal information to third parties.
- As soon as a statistical analysis of the survey result is finalized, we will delete all personal information collected
- By completing and submitting this questionnaire, you have given us your consent to keep and use your personal information in accordance with this notice and BIMCO’s Privacy Policy.
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Source: Professional Mariner, Safety4Sea
