ExxonMobil Marine Fuels & Lubricants is releasing ‘top-tips’ to help vessel owners and operators achieve the best value when purchasing marine fuel. These considerations are particularly important given marine fuel typically accounts for the majority of the total operating cost. ExxonMobil Marine Fuels & Lubricants is advising marine operators to consider the following five key fuel quality factors:

•    Water content – ISO 8217:2012 permitted water content compliance level is 0.5%, while ExxonMobil’s marine fuel has an average of only 0.12%.  If marine fuel is supplied at the 0.5% compliance level this could potentially cost US$6,0002 per purchase for a 2000mt stem, and the water should be removed prior to burning. Water removed from marine fuel prior to use may then add a further disposal cost of upto US$3,000 .  Additional maintenance costs may also be incurred to remove resulting sludge from the purification systems.

•    Metal content – Aluminium and Silicon in marine fuels, known as catalytic fines, have the potential to cause significant engine damage.  This could lead to substantial repair costs and potential vessel delays. ISO 8217:2012 and ISO 8217:2005 allow for levels of catalytic fines up to 60mg/kg and 80mg/kg respectively. Major engine builders typically recommend the level of catalytic fines should be less than 15mg/kg at the engine inlet.  ExxonMobil’s marine fuels normally have significantly lower levels of catalytic fines, with an average of 10mg/kg5. These low levels help limit catalytic fine removal efforts, reduce abrasive wear on critical engine components and potentially avoid the cost of additional maintenance and possible breakdowns.

•    Marine fuel stability – To help meet the lower sulphur levels specified in changing marine industry regulations, there may be a tendency to blend marine fuel from a variety of different sources which may cause the resultant blend to become incompatible. Unstable fuels have the potential to cause sludge or heavy deposits to build up which may prove costly to resolve and may impede vessel performance.  ExxonMobil’s marine fuels arrive from an integrated supply chain and are tested to strict standards before they leave the refinery or terminal, with systematic quality control throughout the supply chain.

•    Calculated Carbon Aromaticity Index (CCAI) level – CCAI level is the indicator of marine fuel combustion quality and it’s important that it is neither too high nor too low.  Poor quality marine fuel with an inappropriate CCAI level, caused by incompatible blend components, could cause poor combustion and has the potential to impact vessel performance.  ISO 8217:2012 states a max limit of 870 for most common residual marine fuel grades and ExxonMobil’s marine fuels sit within the working parameters of major engine manufacturers, helping to protect against poor performance.

•    Laboratory analysis - Finally, ExxonMobil recommends that it is best practice to send fuel samples to an approved laboratory for analysis.  This allows operators to understand the quality of the marine fuel received and how to manage the marine fuel system on board their vessels.
Source: ExxonMobil Marine Fuels & Lubricants