Fuel Additive Firm Says 2015 ECA Regulations Could Boost Sales

DiesoLiFT promises to increase efficiency without changing fuel specifications

Fuel additive maker Fuel Performance Solutions Inc. (FSP) says it sees "potential for growth" as operators turn to marine gas oil (MGO) to comply with tightening Emissions Control Area (ECA) regulations coming into effect in 2015, according to Axel Farhi, the company's director of global business development.

The comments came as FSP announced it has made the first sale in the marine market of its DiesoLiFT additive, which it says makes engines run more efficiently, reducing shipowners' costs for MGO by 5 percent.

It already sells a version the product to the rail, power generation, and road transportation industries.

FPS said it made its first sale of the product in the marine market through distribution partner Brenntag Group (Brenntag), who also manufactures the product.

"The marine market is a huge opportunity for us," said FPS CEO Jonathan Burst.

The sale followed a report on the additive from Lloyd Register Marine's Fuel Oil Bunkering and Analysis and Advisory Service (FOBAS) that showed the additive does not change fuel specifications when added to marine fuels.

Farhi said the additive may be a sound investment for ship owners who choose to switch to MGO to satisfy the new emissions rules rather than converting vessels to run on liquefied natural gas (LNG) or installing exhaust gas scrubbers.

"For a great many ship-owners, the capital expenditure requirements put LNG and scrubbers out of reach," he said.

"Many will, by default, opt for burning MGO."

A number of industry players, including the Port of Rotterdam, predict that most ships will use MGO.