Wilhelmsen Ships Service

Test and treat your fuels for IMO 2020

Changing over to new fuels is just the first step. We know how to keep you compliant in the long run.

Find out how we can help

IMO 2020

The 0.5% sulphur cap has taken effect and many shipowners have changed fuels to remain compliant. But switching over to new fuel brings about various unforeseen challenges. Vessels that have switched over to VLSFOs are starting to experience stability & compatibility issue and wax formation in their fuel.

How do you resolve fuel issues associated with VLSFO?

  1. Stability & Compatibility

    Problem

    After IMO 2020, fuel oil blenders have altered the primary blend target from viscosity and density, to mainly reducing sulphur content.

    This means that VLSFOs have lower densities and viscosities from its traditional fuel oil counterparts, and this higher instability and incompatibility can cause operational issues such as increased sludge deposits in bunkers.

    Solution:

    Stability and compatibility issues can be remedied with the right chemicals which can effectively dissolve sludge.

    Our Unitor FuelPower Conditioner is the perfect solution for this.

  2. Cold Flow Properties

    Problem:

    VLSFOs naturally contain higher paraffinic content than old Heavy Sulphur Oils (HFOs). This property of VLSFOs exacerbates wax formations, especially in colder climates, and can severely clog up purifiers, fuel pipes and fuel tanks. Without quick intervention, this can lead to irreversible operational troubles and incur great clean-up costs.

     

    Solution:

    Additives which specifically targets improving cold flow properties and reduction of wax sedimentation are the best treatment solutions.

    Our Unitor FuelPower PPD VLSFO is an additive that is designed for this very purpose, and it is applicable for not just VLSFOs, but also intermediate/hybrid marine fuel oils.

  3. Total Sediment Potential (TSP) off specification

    Problem:

    Many ship operators shared that the VLSFO was well within specifications during bunkering, but the sludging problems appeared during the voyage. VLSFO has a higher paraffinic content and tends to destabilise over time. These off-specification fuels often causing sludging problems which can readily choke purifiers, filters, fuel injection equipment, as well as fuel lines.

    Solution:

    To circumvent operational problems and potentially expensive debunkering, our Unitor FuelPower TSP VLSFO is able to revitalise an “off-specification” fuel back to within specifications and effectively re-stabilise the VLSFO.

  4. Catalytic Fines

    Problem:

    VLSFOs are catalytic-fine prone and less lubricating than heavy fuel oil (HFOs), and this causes higher engine wear due to increased friction.

    Although ship operators try to collect and test fuel samples before voyage, the test samples are often only available after the ship has set sail. Operators  typically cannot wait in port for results, and so they have either treated fuel unnecessarily, or had to live with the consequences if they are sailing with bad fuel.

    Solution:

    The Unitor Catalytic Fines test kit has been designed to flag up fuel samples that may be contaminated with dangerous levels of catalytic fines before the fuel has even been pumped aboard.

Expert knowledge

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