FOBAS: Cat fines plagued Singapore off-spec bunkers in April

Off-specification bunkers at Singapore port were affected by excess aluminium and silicon content, also known as cat fines, between 15th and 30th April 2018, according to Lloyd’s Register Fuel Oil Bunkering Analysis and Advisory Service (FOBAS) data.

In total, the report identified 83 instances where a result was outside the 95% confidence limit of either ISO 8217:2017 test parameter.

At Singapore port, there were 21 cases of off-spec bunkers; seven of these recorded excessive cat fines.

A local source with knowledge of the matter notes recent off-spec cases have caught the eye of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA).

“Quality issues for the past weeks in Singapore are widely reported and is pretty serious,” he told Manifold Times.

“I do believe MPA is looking into this. But understand from the industry this could be a thing in the past as we heard that new on spec stocks are or have arrived Singapore.

“The past two to four weeks there was lots of debunker carried out in Singapore or overseas due to these off specs.”

An industry veteran, meanwhile, points out the majority of Singapore bunker contracts are currently based on ISO 8217:2005 standards.

“The ISO 8217:2005 standard specifies a limit of 80 mg/kg for cat fines and Singapore bunker suppliers mostly guaranteed specs based on 2005,” he states.

“Taking this into consideration, the cat fine off-spec cases highlighted by FOBAS are all within spec under ISO 8217:2005 standards.”

The top three off-spec bunker ports for the period between 15th and 30th April 2018 are as follows:
 

Related: INSIGHT: Off-spec issues reveal 'missing piece' of Singapore bunker supply chain

Published: 8 May, 2018