The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore launched extra particulars on the present gas contamination downside that started within the port in mid-February and was reported to the authorities in mid-March. Whereas there have been no additional studies of vessels experiencing issues from the contaminated gas in Singapore, gas testing providers are recommending continued warning and there are potential studies that the issue has unfold to the U.S.
Alerts had been issued in mid-March after a number of vessels reported having issues largely centered round gas pump failures or engine points. A number of vessels reported blacking out however no severe accidents had been linked to the outbreak.
The MPA confirmed the studies from a number of testing providers that the gas in query was Excessive Sulfur Gas Oil (HSFO) that was contaminated with excessive focus ranges of Chlorinated Natural Compounds (COC). Tracing the origins of the gas, the MPA studies that it believes roughly 200 vessels bunkering in Singapore obtained the contaminated gas with about 80 ships reporting gas pump or engine issues.
Gas testing firm, Veritas Petroleum Providers (VPS) is offering extra particulars whereas additionally advising clients to stay cautious. They had been involved over the chance that the issue might unfold past Singapore, with the commerce publication Tradewinds being the primary to report right this moment that there may very well be situations of the gas in Houston, Texas. Tradewinds says that contaminated bunkers had been discovered on at the very least one vessel in Houston.
“We’ve now recognized a big amount of bunker gas, 140,170 metric tonnes to be exact, that has been contaminated with chlorinated hydrocarbons,” mentioned Malcolm Cooper, CEO of VPS in an replace issued on April 11. “This equates to $120 million at present market worth.”
VPS reported that it recognized 60 vessels that obtained the contaminated HSFO whereas bunkering within the Port of Singapore. “Every of those deliveries was constructed from two suppliers and 12 supply barges, between mid-February to mid-March 2022, and contained chlorinated hydrocarbon contaminants of as much as 2,000 ppm.” VPS, nevertheless, mentioned that it had discovered solely 14 vessels experiencing significantly damaging results as a result of bunker gas contamination and that there have been no new studies in Singapore since March.
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The MPA confirmed that it additionally performed exams on the gas whereas tracing it to a blended product equipped by Glencore Singapore. Glencore knowledgeable MPA that it had obtained studies of its gas being contaminated, and performed its personal confirming exams. By the point of testing, the MPA nevertheless says that Glencore had already offered a part of the affected gas to PetroChina Worldwide (Singapore), which in flip, had equipped to ships within the Port of Singapore.
One of many challenges that had been recognized each by the gas testing providers and the MPA is that the contaminants usually are not detected in customary ISO and ASTM procedures. Glencore had examined the gas and located it in compliance with the ISO requirements.
“That is the primary case of gas contamination because of excessive focus ranges of COC reported in Singapore previously twenty years,” mentioned the MPA. “We’re presently in discussions with the business on implementing extra gas high quality checks that may display for unacceptable chemical substances. MPA additionally intends to submit a paper on the gas contamination with COC to the Worldwide Maritime Group for the members’ consciousness.”
