Triton 2025 - Magazine - Page 37
PERSPECTIVES
GREEN FUELS
Effective Management
Strategies for Evolving
Marine Fuel Use
The marine fuel landscape has undergone
a signi昀椀cant transformation since the
introduction of the IMO 2020 regulations
(limiting the global sulphur content in
marine fuel oil from 3.5% to 0.50%).
The result has been the introduction
of a new set of operational challenges
for shipowners, particularly with the
widespread use of very low sulphur fuel
oil (VLSFO).
Initial Challenges with
VLSFO
The adoption of VLSFO has exposed ship
operators to several key issues:
•
Poor cold-flow properties, leading to
wax formation in colder climates
•
Stability and shelf-life concerns
•
Sludge formation
•
Liner scuf昀椀ng in large two-stroke
engines
At 昀椀rst it was believed that liner scuf昀椀ng
was unrelated to fuel quality. However,
investigations revealed it was often caused
by the interaction between VLSFO blends
and low Base Number (BN) cylinder oils.
Traditionally, higher BN oils (70/100 BN)
were used to neutralise acidic combustion
byproducts and clean engine components.
However, lower BN oils (around 40 BN)
were recommended for VLSFO use, which
reduced calcium-based additives and
increased deposit formation.
Adapted from an article by
IMarEST Magazine by Stanley
George, VPS Group Technical and
Science Manager.
Mitigation Strategies
To combat liner scuf昀椀ng, original
equipment manufacturers (OEMs)
introduced Category II (CAT II) cylinder
oils. These oils offer better deposit control
and improved cleaning. Operators also
re昀椀ned lubrication practices and monitored
liner wear closely. Some opted to adopt
blend-on-board systems which could
adjust oil properties in real time optimising
neutralisation and detergency according to
speci昀椀c fuel pro昀椀les.
VLSFO’s cold-flow problems further
highlight the need for robust storage and
handling strategies. Temperature control,
fuel conditioning, and regular fuel quality
checks are essential to preserve integrity
and avoid engine reliability issues.
Triton 2025 37
