Quadrise: First MSAR Emulsion Bunkers Delivered and in Trial

Quadrise says it has made "excellent progress," having produced and delivered its first batch of its MSAR bunkers, which are now being trialed by Maersk Line vessels.

Quadrise Fuels International plc (Quadrise) Tuesday announced that it has made "excellent progress" since March, having produced and delivered its first batch of its Multiphase Superfine Atomized Residue (MSAR) emulsion bunkers, which are now being trialed in a Maersk Line vessel.

As Ship & Bunker previously reported, Quadrise signed a deal with Spain's Compañía Española de Petróleos, S.A.U. (CEPSA) to trial supplying the alternative marine fuel supplier's emulsion MSAR fuel to Maersk Line ships.

As the route of the vessel involved in the operational trial includes transit in an emission control area (ECA), Quadrise says the testing process on the MSAR bunkers is expected to continue over 4,000 hours of engine operation, across a period of about 9 months.

"Alongside the project at CEPSA, we have continued to make good progress with other refiners to underpin the commercial roll-out of marine MSAR fuels for the shipping industry, post the successful conclusion of the operational trial programme," explains Quadrise.

"There has also been significant engagement with our clients in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on the production to combustion pilot programme during the period. Whilst there has been regular constructive dialogue with the clients, and progress has been made during the period, it is at a slower pace than the project stakeholders had originally envisaged."

Quadrise says the implementation of the economic reform plan "Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030" has slowed the clients' decision making process, which is expected to delay the project's timeline into the spring of 2017.

The company further notes that, in light of the delay and the operational testing process now underway, "resource constraints" delayed the technical evaluation work Quadrise is undertaking for a number of its clients in order ensure the suitability of specific refining residues for MSAR production.

"This work is now expected to be completed during H2 2016," concluded Quadrise.

In November, Quadrise announced that it had signed an agreement with the University of Surrey in Guildford, enabling the company to move its primary emulsion fuels research base from Sweden to the UK - a programme that the company says has made "good progress" since.