IBIA Warns on Marine Fuel: More Technical Investigation Needed
IBIA said more technical investigations are needed into recent marine fuel issues and called for greater supply chain transparency.
The International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA) has issued a statement regarding the operational issues recently reported in connection with components that may indicate the presence of shale oil in certain residual marine fuels. The Association stated that the current findings require more comprehensive technical investigations, while emphasizing that the available evidence does not establish a direct causal relationship between these components and the reported operational issues.
According to IBIA's statement, the Technical Working Group evaluated the available information and data. The review noted that the reported cases raise important questions for the industry; however, the data obtained so far do not demonstrate that shale oil-derived compounds are the direct cause of the operational problems.
The Association recalled that shale oil-derived hydrocarbons are an approved feedstock under the ISO 8217 standard. The statement noted that the presence of these components in the fuel does not, by itself, mean that the fuel is of poor quality or non-compliant with the standard. It stated that the key issue to be assessed is whether the delivered finished fuel meets all the requirements of the ISO 8217 standard, including fuel composition and operational suitability for use.
IBIA stated that the reported cases highlight the need for a better understanding of the real-world operational performance of increasingly complex marine fuel blends. The statement pointed out that as the industry's feedstock sources and blending components become more diverse, the importance of greater transparency, traceability, quality assurance, and information sharing throughout the supply chain continues to increase.
The Association announced that it supports more comprehensive technical investigations, stronger cooperation among industry stakeholders, and increased data sharing to improve the understanding of fuel behavior and operational performance. IBIA stated that these efforts will help maintain confidence in marine fuel quality while also supporting the safe, reliable, and efficient operation of ships.
