| UNACCEPTABLE CONTAMINATION LEVELS IN BUNKER FUELS |
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It would appear that since ISO 8217 does not check for presence of contaminants, far too many liberties are being taken with bunker fuel supplied. In this fuel supplied in Sevilla, Spain, Asphaltene content was 10.0% (against 2% to 6% in normal fuels), MCR 15.3 %( though within limits, this is higher than average) and CCAI was 855 (which is high). Xylene Equivalent - This is a test to determine the adequacy of aromatics content in the fuel to keep the asphaltene in solution. Normally if Xylene equivalent is more than 30, the aromatic content is considered to be very low. For this fuel, the Xylene equivalent was 50!! With all this, predictably, the vessel has suffered broken piston rings. It is hazardous and nerve racking to change piston rings when vessel is at mid sea. If it is a high traffic area, a ship drifting while piston rings are being renewed is a major hazard. We have already sent an update (2010/10/32 and 2009/4/7) where the combination of MCR greater than 11.5%, asphaltene greater than 10.5% and CCAI greater than 848 can cause piston ring breakage in 380 cSt fuels. In addition, this Sevilla fuel also had contaminants and low aromatics as noted It is clear that ISO 8217 is not going to identify problem fuels. Only extended tests can do this. Increasingly the price for not identifying the problem fuels is becoming expensive indeed! Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions. Source: Download attachement original document Best regards, TECHNICAL UPDATE: 2011/2/4
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A few days ago we reported on a number of contaminants present in bunker fuels supplied in Houston and at least three ships reporting machinery damage. We are now reporting about a sample of fuel bunkered in Sevilla, Spain.
