More Diesel in Ship Fuel Raises Risk It May Turn Into Sludge
- More diesel being used to make shipping fuel amid glut
- Tests show stability of some fuels may become an issue
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The shipping sector is providing an outlet for surplus oil products such as diesel that have swelled due to a virus-driven demand hit, but questions about changing ship fuel quality are starting to raise concerns.
Diesel and straight-run kerosene, which is usually processed into jet fuel, are increasingly being used to make very low-sulfur fuel oil for ships, helping to alleviate a glut of middle distillates. Routine sampling of VLSFO is showing that some blends are becoming less viscous, or thinner, which may affect the stability of the fuel, according to testers and industry consultants.