1st day
Introduction to Fuel Oil
- What is fuel oil, brief history; Manufacturing routes
- Blendstock components & their properties; Supply & demand trends towards 2022
Specifications, Components & Test Methods
- ISO 8217 & latest changes; Relevance of individual properties & test methods
- Fit-for-purpose vs on-spec; Developments & future changes
Stability & compatibility of bunker fuel
- Fundamentals of asphaltene stability, Current test methods; Prediction of stability & compatibility
- Best practices; Exercise on fuel oil stability; Case studies on bunker oil stability problems
Bunker fuel blending, components & tools
- Why blending is necessary; Blending systems (in tank, in-line, in-line with ratio control)
- Linear & non-linear blending rules; unusual blending components; blending software & equipment
- Exercise on viscosity blending
2nd day
Blend control & quality assurance
- Quality management; documentation; MARPOL samples
Storage & handling of bunker fuel
- Fuel oil tanks; mixing systems; additives
Laboratory testing & on-line testing
- Role of the laboratory (including repeatability & reproducibility);
- Benefits laboratory testing & on-line testing; types of on-line testing methods
- Lab testing standards (ISO9001/17025, ASTM/IP/ISO test methodology)
Blending economics
- Blending tools & optimisation; single & multi-blend optimisation
- Quality give-away; ensuring the maximum profit from a blend
Blending for 0.5% sulphur compliance (MARPOL)
- Current status; impact on bunker fuel customers; impact on fuel quality & pricing
- Necessary components for 0.5% VLSFO blending; challenges & problems;
- Ensuring stability & compatibility; avoiding off-spec fuel from blending operations
Bunker fuel complaints
- Survey fuel oil complaints; examples of problem fuels; ISO 4259 for dispute handling
- Complaint handling exercise
Liability & claims handling
- Responsibilities for bunker fuel quality; warranties under bunker supply contract
- Contamination of bunkers & blend incompatibility; BIMCO bunker quality & liability clause; ISO 8217
- Potential legal claims (Charterers vs Contractual Bunker Suppliers vs Physical Bunker Suppliers vs Owners); Claims and claims handling; Bunker supplier defence
Bunker fuel HSE aspects
Course evaluation