World News
Videotel Launches Fuel Switching Education Program
UK-based maritime education product company Videotel says it has released a new program to guide ships along the fuel switching process when entering and leaving Emission Control Areas (ECA).
The company said that it was responding to recent U.S. Coast Guard safety alert which highlighted an increasing amount of ships experiencing sudden losses of power when improperly switching to low-sulfur fuel.
Since January 1, 2015, the sulfur content of marine fuel used in ECAs has been limited to 0.10 percent by weight, which in practice means making a more complicated fuel switch from fuel oil to distillate for compliance.
With the previous limit of 1.0 percent, operators were able to use a compliant fuel oil product inside ECA zones, simplifying the fuel switching procedure.
"It is critical that crews are aware of best practice when switching heavy marine fuel oil to low sulphur fuel because without proper training, serious operational problems can occur impairing a ship's performance or even, in a worst case scenario, damaging a ship's main or auxiliary engines," said CEO Nigel Cleave.
Videotel added that the program factors in considerations such as whether a ship will require fuel oil service or day tank modifications, along with equipment checkups and how to avoid busy traffic lanes during the switching process.
Earlier this month, Lloyd's Register estimated that half of all fuel switching-related power loss incidents go unreported.
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