Singapore Port Authority introduces new testing parameters for bunker fuel

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has announced new parameters aimed at improving quality assurance for marine fuels following a bunker contamination incident in February 2022 that affected around 200 ships. These improvements will be mandatory from June of this year, in addition to maintaining existing quality assurance measures.

As part of the new parameters, bunker suppliers in Singapore must ensure that residual and bio-residue marine fuels do not contain chlorinated organic compounds (COC) above 50 milligrams per kilogram and must be free of inorganic acids. Additionally, residual marine fuels should be free of polymers such as polystyrene, polyethylene, and polymethacrylate. Testing must also be carried out after blending and before delivery of the fuel for marine fuels that are blended from different batches of fuels or raw materials at the Port of Singapore.

The contamination incident earlier in 2022 had caused problems with fuel pumps and engines for the ships supplied with high-COC sulfur fuel oil at the port of Singapore, as well as causing power outages for some ships. This new quality assurance measure aims to prevent similar incidents in the future and ensure the reliability and safety of marine fuels supplied in Singapore.

Source .