FOBAS urges common sense approach to ISO green fuel rule

LLOYD's Register's consultancy, Fuel Oil Bunker Analysis (FOBAS) is advising shipowners take a "common sense approach" towards the adoption of the new environmentally driven ISO 8217:2010 standard in fuel specification.

"More work needs to be done to gauge the effects of bio-derived, blended fuels on marine propulsion applications," said global FOBAS manager Douglas Raitt.

FOBAS reminded the shipping community that the ISO 8217 standard was only a commercial contractual specification, and not legally enforceable.

"A more flexible approach is required as it is not only about comparing fuel quality against the ISO specification tables, but determining fitness for purpose," said the FOBAS statement.

FOBAS added that there were concerns of "bio-derived components finding their way into the marine distillate stream, which may have adverse effects on ships' engines".

The revised ISO 8217:2010 changes the 2005 standard and has prompted widespread debate within the shipping industry and the fuel supply community, the statement said.

"FOBAS will continue to take a practical, common sense approach to advising our clients," said Mr Raitt. "The fuel standard is fundamentally a commercial agreement between buyers and sellers and FOBAS will continue to help its stakeholders ascertain the best way of handling and managing fuels."
(Source:www.schednet.com)