fuel oil – Officer of the Watch

The Alternative ‘Alternative Fuel’?

March 31, 2014 by Officer of the Watch Leave a Comment

As we look at, and try to understand, all the future fuel options, there is one particular fuel that has caught my attention. It is sulphur free, has low emissions, perhaps three to four times cheaper than marine distillate fuel, probably lower in price than LNG, a more beneficial fuel factor for the EEDI than LNG or diesel, it is non cryogenic and is already in widespread production (~50 million tonnes per annum) for a multitude of uses, including combustion. It has great potential for a much higher production and a distribution infrastructure more easily established than LNG.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: FEATURED AUTHORS Tagged With: eca fuel, fuel efficiency, fuel oil, methanol, Technical

IMO MEPC 64th session 1-5 Oct. 2012

October 1, 2012 by Officer of the Watch Leave a Comment

The Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) meets for its 64th session from 1 to 5 October 2012, at IMO Headquarters in London. As well as discussing matters relating to the implementation of energy-efficiency, ballast water management and ship-recycling regulations, the MEPC will also consider formally designating the Saba Bank, in the North-eastern Caribbean area of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, as a Particularly Sensitive Sea Area (PSSA).

[Read more…]

Filed Under: OOW FOCUS Tagged With: BWM, ECA, EEDI, energy efficiency, fuel oil, greenhouse gas, IBC Code, IMO, MARPOL Annex VI, MEPC, regulations, Safety & Quality, SEEMP, SOx

The “Cappuccino Effect”

August 21, 2012 by Officer of the Watch 1 Comment

Recently the west of England P&I released a Loss Prevention Bulletin on the “Cappuccino Effect” due to a recent bunker dispute involving a vessel and a bunker supplier. The vessel, a bulk carrier, arrived in Singapore and began to bunker 900 tonnes of high sulphur fuel oil. The crew was alerted to the fact that something was wrong by the rattling of the float valves situated inside the fuel tank vent head bonnets. It was found that air was escaping from the vents at a greater rate than would normally be expected. In addition, the bunker supply hose lying on deck was seen to be jerking violently.

Interim Guidance on the Non-Availability of Compliant Fuel Oil for the North American ECA

June 28, 2012 by Officer of the Watch Leave a Comment

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released interim guidance for ship owners and operators clarifying how the U.S. government will implement fuel availability provisions when ships are unable to obtain fuel that meets standards protecting against sulfur pollution along the coast. Sulfur pollution has been linked to respiratory illnesses, particularly in at-risk populations including children, the elderly, and asthmatics. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has officially designated waters off of the coast of North America, known as the North American Emission Control Area (North American ECA), as areas where stringent international pollution standards apply for ships, including fuel sulfur limits. The guidance provides background information on the North American ECA fuel sulfur standards, explains how owners and operators of vessels can establish compliance with these requirements, and describes how an owner or operator of a vessel who cannot obtain compliant fuel oil can make a fuel oil non-availability claim.