A number of shipping, refining, fuel supply and standards organisations have worked together to produce the Joint Industry Guidance on the supply and use of 0.50 per cent of sulphur marine fuel
The publication is designed to guide stakeholders across the marine fuel and shipping industries, from fuel blenders and suppliers to end-users. It sets out specific safety and operational issues relating to the supply and use of max. 0.50 per cent-sulphur fuels, an overview of the principles of fuel quality and the controls to be put in place to ensure that safety issues are identified, prevented and/or mitigated.
The guide addresses issues such as fuel compatibility, fuel stability, and fuel handling and storage, and contains a comprehensive review of existing operational factors that can affect safety. It does not address issues related to compliance with Flag State, Port State or International Maritime Organization (IMO) rules or guidelines, or alternative means of compliance (e.g. Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems), and does not include a discussion of alternative fuels such as LNG, hydrogen or methanol.
The guide provides some potential ship saving indicators, such as providing full information to enable crews to identify and manage potential safety and operational issues related to certain fuel properties and characteristics. In addition, ensuring the stability of blended fuels by confirming the components used are suitable for bunker fuel production and advice on the review of operational practices to ensure fuel compatibility.
The publication will be supported by an e-learning course to be released on October 2019. The aims of which will be:
-To provide an understanding of MARPOL Annex VI and its potential impact on the management of fuels onboard ships.
-To raise awareness of and offer solutions to potential fuel management issues.
