FOBAS: International bunker off-spec samples down 32% in 1H August
- Published
by Admin
The Lloyd’s Register Fuel Oil Bunkering Analysis and Advisory Service (FOBAS) recorded 32% lower off-spec bunker samples from international ports during the period between 1 to 14 (1H) August, when compared to 2H of July.
Antwerp and Rotterdam ports saw the most number of off-spec cases over a variety of issues during 1H August.
Off-spec cases at Singapore were all related to pour point during the period; pour point cases at Singapore are “not a big issue” due to local weather conditions, a source earlier told Manifold Times.
The off-spec cases occurred when a result was outside the 95% confidence limit of either ISO 8217 6th edition test parameter or a value given by the BDN or sample label.
The top bunker ports with reported off-spec bunker fuel cases in 1H August are as follows:
| Port | Characteristic | ISO 8217 Limit or Advised Value |
Final result | Unit |
| Antwerp | Ash | 0.010* | 0.045 | % Mass |
| Antwerp | Ash | 0.010* | 0.043 | % Mass |
| Antwerp | Cetane Index | 40** | 39 | Index |
| Antwerp | Density at 15°C | 0.9897** | 0.9957 | kg/l |
| Antwerp | MCR 10% Bottom | 0.30* | 2.25 | % Mass |
| Antwerp | Pour point | 30* | 36 | °C |
| Antwerp | Pour point | 30* | 36 | °C |
| Antwerp | Sulphur | 0.10** | 0.12 | % Mass |
| Antwerp | Viscosity at 40°C | 4.00** | 6.6 | cSt |
| Rotterdam | Density at 15°C | 0.9910** | 0.9939 | kg/l |
| Rotterdam | Sulphur | 0.10** | 0.12 | % Mass |
| Rotterdam | Sulphur | 0.10** | 0.13 | % Mass |
| Rotterdam | Viscosity at 50°C | 699.7** | 732.3 | cSt |
| Rotterdam | Viscosity at 50°C | 380.0** | 399.6 | cSt |
| Rotterdam | Viscosity at 50°C | 376.6** | 503.0 | cSt |
| Rotterdam | Viscosity at 50°C | 367.0** | 397.3 | cSt |
| Rotterdam | Water | 0.50* | 2.00 | % Volume |
| Rotterdam | Water | 0.50* | 2.70 | % Volume |
| Singapore | Pour point | 0* | 6 | °C |
| Singapore | Pour point | 0* | 6 | °C |
| Singapore | Pour point | 0* | 6 | °C |
| Singapore | Pour point | 0* | 6 | °C |
| Singapore | Pour point | 0* | 6 | °C |
| Singapore | Pour point | 0* | 6 | °C |
*ISO 8217 6th edition limit
**Advised value from BDN or sample label
***Due to the statutory significance of Flash Point the 95% confidence limit is not applied
Earlier FOBAS reports on off-spec fuels and bunker alerts in 2019 have been organised in chronological order below:
Related: FOBAS: Global off-spec bunker samples 63% up in 2H July
Related: FOBAS: International off-spec bunker cases down 6% in 1H July
Related: FOBAS: Update on contaminated fuels from St Petersburg, Russia
Related: FOBAS: High Aluminium + Silicon levels in fuels from Chennai
Related: FOBAS: 63 off-spec bunker cases identified in 2H June 2019
Related: FOBAS: International off-spec bunker cases up 9% in 1H June 2019
Related: FOBAS: Surge in bunker off-spec cases at Antwerp port during 2H May
Related: FOBAS: 16% decrease in off-specs of bunker samples in 1H May
Related: FOBAS: 69 cases of off-spec bunker cases identified in 2H April
Related: FOBAS: High Acid number and possible fuel contamination at Fujairah
Related: FOBAS: 72% increase in off-spec marine fuel cases in 2H March
Related: FOBAS: Off-spec marine fuel cases down 16% in 1H March
Related: FOBAS Alert: Low flash point residual fuels at Singapore port
Related: FOBAS: 52% increase in off-spec marine fuel cases in 2H Feb
Related: FOBAS: 48 off-specification marine fuel cases in 1H February
Related: FOBAS: 91 instances of off-spec bunker fuel cases in 2H January
Related: FOBAS Alert: Off spec sediment bunker fuel oil from Singapore
Published: 19 August, 2019
