Last month a briefing to underwriters in London covered the increasing incidence of severe engine damage. The drive towards low sulfur fuels is causing fuel refining processes to change, some of which result in below standard HFO being delivered to ships. A higher presence of particles called catalyst fines is precipitating very costly engine damage. Cat fines have always been present in bunker oils and standard ISO 8217 (2005) permits up to 80 ppm, but the problem is that more than 15 – 20 ppm already causes damage to engine parts. The components most at risk to accelerated wear are: the fuel pump, piston rings and cylinder liners. Sadly the prognosis is that with the increasing demand for low sulfur fuel, engine failures are going to increase. Until fuel standards improve a 100 per cent fuel management policy to purify the fuel is the only guarantee to avoid these problems.
Mathematician, astronomer, and author of the “New American Practical Navigator”
Fall is here, and winter is fast approaching. You know what that means; time to start winterizing your boat! Winter weather wreaks havoc on a boat not adequately prepared for hibernation.