Fuel testing specialist VPS has observed a notable rise in marine fuel quality alerts, with 20 notifications issued since late February. These alerts primarily concern elevated levels of catfines and sediment in bunker fuel. This volume is unusually high, nearly matching the total number of alerts for the entire previous year within a three-month period.
The increase in alerts is attributed to the ongoing Middle East conflict, which has likely impacted fuel supply chains and refining processes, leading to a degradation in fuel quality. These issues were identified in approximately 10 ports worldwide.
For freight forwarders and operations managers, this trend signifies potential operational challenges. Vessels receiving contaminated fuel may experience engine damage, leading to delays, off-hire periods, and costly repairs. This could disrupt shipping schedules, increase bunker costs due to the need for re-bunkering or fuel treatment, and potentially impact cargo delivery times. Forwarders should advise shippers on potential transit time extensions and consider clauses for fuel quality issues in contracts.
