MARINE BUNKER SUPPLY

 

Intermediate fuel oil with a maximum viscosity of 380 centistokes (<3.5% sulfur)


IFO 380

   
   
 

Intermediate fuel oil with a maximum viscosity of 180 centistokes (<3.5% sulfur)

IFO 180

   
   

 

 

Low sulfur fuel oil (LSFO)
Heavy fuel oils are referred to as low sulfur fuel oil (LSFO) if their sulfur content is below 1%. Usually these are marine fuel types IFO 180 or IFO 380, which have been desulfurized. Until the end of 2014, ships could still travel through Emission Control Areas (ECAs) with this type of marine fuel. 

VLSFO

   
   

 

 

Low sulfur marine gasoil (LS-MGO) has a sulfur content of less than 0.1%. This marine fuel can be used in EU ports or Emission Control Areas (ECAs), which among other things impose a sulfur emissions limit corresponding to that of LS-MGO. For this reason, most shipping companies use a low sulfur marine gasoil variety DMA in these places. Alternatively, this limit can also be achieved by means of suitable equipment (filter systems, scrubbers).

LSMGO

   
   

 

 

Marine gasoil (MGO) describes marine fuels that consist exclusively of distillates. Distillates are all those components of crude oil that evaporate in fractional distillation and are then condensed from the gas phase into liquid fractions. Marine gasoil usually consists of a blend of various distillates. Marine gasoil is similar to diesel fuel, but has a higher density. Unlike heavy fuel oil (HFO), marine gasoil does not have to be heated during storage.

Marine gasoil and standard heating oil largely share the same properties. Therefore, heating oil is sometimes supplied as marine fuel when there are shortages of marine gasoil according to the ISO 8217 DMA designation. However, in this case the flashpoint of the relabeled heating oil must be above 60°C, which is usually the case. Furthermore, it must be ensured that the engine technology or any installed exhaust filter systems on the ships are compatible with the relatively low sulfur content of heating oil.

MGO has a transparent to light color. If the marine fuel is used in inland waterway shipping, like heating oil it must be marked with Solvent Yellow 124 dye. In addition, the marine gasoil is colorized red. These measures are to prevent – or enable the detection of – the misuse of low-taxed and relatively cheap heating oil or marine gasoil (which is in fact often the same fuel) in inland shipping.

Marine gasoil is used in smaller medium- to high-speed auxiliary units or auxiliary motors and ship’s engines. The latter are typically found on fishing boats, small ferries or tugs. Unlike heavy fuel oil or heavy marine diesel oil (MDO) with a large proportion of heavy fuel oil, marine gasoil, which is based on the lighter distillates, has a low viscosity and can easily be pumped into the engine at temperatures of around 20°C.

MGO

   
   

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