Rajan Wilcox
Bunker fuel is a colloquial term for fuel oil used by marine vessels. It is called bunker fuel because it is stored in a ship's fuel bunker or tank. The fuel is burned by deep-sea cargo ships and is the remnant of the refining process after gasoline, diesel, and other light hydrocarbons are extracted from crude oil. It is very toxic and has a tar-like consistency. Due to its relatively low cost, it is the most widely used engine fuel oil on board ships. However, it is also the cause of significant marine oil spills and contributes to climate change and negative environmental and human health impacts.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| What is bunker fuel? | The colloquial term for fuel oil used by marine vessels. |
| Why do ships use bunker fuel? | Bunker fuel is cheap. |
| What is bunker fuel made from? | Bunker fuel is the remnant from the distillation and cracking process of petroleum. |
| What are the issues with bunker fuel? | Bunker fuel is toxic and highly polluting. It is also difficult to work with as it has a tar-like consistency and has to be preheated. |
| What types of ships use bunker fuel? | Deep sea cargo ships, tankers, large ocean-going vessels, container ships, bulkers, and other vessels. |
| What are the regulatory requirements for bunker fuel? | New regulations require ships to use marine fuels with a sulphur content of no more than 0.50% (ULSFO fuel) or retrofit their vessels with filters to reduce sulphur emissions. The use of heavy fuel oil is banned in the Antarctic and discouraged in the Arctic. |
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What You'll Learn
Bunker fuel is a colloquial term for fuel oil used by marine vessels
The term "bunker fuel" is derived from the age of steam-powered ships, which used coal as fuel stored in "coal bunkers" onboard. While ships now have fuel tanks instead of coal bunkers, the term "bunker" has persisted. Bunker fuel is a broad term for any fuel used on a ship. It is a category of fuel oils with a tar-like consistency and is also known as heavy fuel oil (HFO) or residual fuel oil. HFO is the remnant of the distillation and cracking process of petroleum, resulting in a highly variable chemical composition. It contains compounds such as aromatics, sulfur, nitrogen, and wax, which contribute to increased pollution upon combustion.
Bunker fuel is widely used by maritime vessels to power their motors. The specific type of bunker fuel used depends on the vessel. Smaller vessels may use diesel, while larger vessels typically use heavy fuel oil or marine gas oil (MGO). MGO is considered a low-sulfur fuel oil (LSFO). The use of HFO has been predominant in the shipping industry due to its low cost compared to cleaner fuel sources. However, it presents environmental concerns, including the risk of oil spills and the emission of toxic compounds.
To address these concerns, new regulations have been implemented to reduce sulfur emissions. Ships are now required to use marine fuels with a sulfur content of no more than 0.50% (ULSFO fuel) or retrofit their vessels with filters to comply with regulations when using regular bunker fuel. These regulations aim to reduce sulfur oxide emissions and improve air quality. The International Maritime Organization's (IMO) International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters (Polar Code) has banned the use of HFO as a fuel source for ships traveling in the Antarctic.
The bunker fuel market includes various grades and categories of fuel oils. Traditionally, bunker fuels were classified into three types: A, B, and C. Bunker A was synonymous with No. 2 fuel oil, while bunker B was associated with No. 4 or No. 5 fuel oils. Bunker C, the most common type, corresponded to an ungraded fuel oil. Residual fuel oils, a category of bunker fuels, are further classified based on their viscosity. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has developed specifications for bunker fuels, known as ISO 8217, to ensure their suitability for marine applications and address potential risks associated with fuel quality.
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Bunker fuel is cheaper than other fuel oils
The name 'bunker fuel' comes from the storage area within a boat or ship where fuel is kept, known as the fuel bunker. Bunker fuel is the colloquial term for fuel oil used by marine vessels. It is not a specific type of fuel but can be any variety of fuels depending on the vessel.
Marine residual fuel oil has traditionally been the fuel of choice for the world's largest container ships, bulkers, and other vessels. However, it is considered problematic due to its high emissions of GHG, sulfur, and other pollutants that negatively impact climate change and human health.
Due to these environmental and health concerns, new regulations have been introduced to limit the use of heavy fuel oil (HFO) and encourage the use of marine gas oil (MGO), a lower-sulfur distillate fuel that meets the criteria of the new regulations. These regulations require ships to use marine fuels with a sulfur content of no more than 0.50% (ULSFO fuel) or retrofit their vessels with filters to reduce sulfur emissions when using regular bunker fuel.
As a result of these regulatory changes, vessel owners are facing challenges in transitioning to more environmentally friendly fuels while ensuring the quality and safety of their bunker fuel supplies.
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Bunker fuel is considered to be the dirtiest of the fuel oils used at sea
The term 'bunker fuel' dates back to steam-powered ships, which were powered by coal stored in coal bunkers onboard. While ships now use fuel tanks, the name has stuck around. The name does not refer to the type of fuel used, which can vary depending on the vessel. Bunker fuels are part of a broader family of fuels known as 'fuel oils'.
Fuel oils can be divided into two categories: distillates and residual fuel oils. Distillate fuel oils are produced by conventional distillation and are cleaner-burning. They are also more expensive, as they contain the lighter and more valuable components of crude oil. Residual fuel oils, on the other hand, are the remnants of the refining process and are thus cheaper. They tend to be more viscous and more likely to contain contaminants. Marine residual fuel, in particular, is considered the 'crudest' and 'dirtiest' of the fuel oils used at sea. It often contains compounds such as aromatics, sulphur, nitrogen, and wax, giving it a tar-like consistency. Due to the wax content, marine residual fuel must sometimes be heated to maintain sufficient viscosity.
To comply with emission control zone requirements, ships must use marine fuels with a sulphur content of less than 0.50% (ULSFO fuel) or be retrofitted with filters to reduce sulphur emissions. These regulations aim to reduce the amount of sulphur oxide in the air, as sulphur oxides are extremely harmful to the environment and human health.
Larger ocean-going vessels typically use heavy fuel oil (HFO), a type of bunker fuel that falls under the category of residual fuel oils. However, there are plans to limit the usage of HFO and transition to marine gas oil (MGO), a distillate fuel that produces lower emissions.
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Bunker fuel is highly polluting and toxic
The sulphur content of bunker fuel is extremely high, with estimates ranging from 500 to 3500 times more sulphur than the diesel used for cars. This has significant environmental implications, as sulphur oxides are a major air pollutant. The emissions from just 15 of the world's biggest ships may emit as much pollution as all 760 million cars globally.
To address this issue, new regulations were introduced in 2020 to limit the sulphur content of ship fuels to no more than 0.50% (ULSFO fuel). These regulations are expected to have a significant impact on reducing sulphur oxide emissions by up to 98%. However, even with these new regulations, the sulphur content of shipping fuel will still be much higher than that of road diesel.
In addition to its environmental impact, bunker fuel is also toxic. Its consistency is described as tar-like sludge, and it requires heating to maintain sufficient viscosity. The toxic emissions from ships' bunker fuel have been estimated to cause approximately 60,000 deaths each year.
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Bunker fuel is a significant source of marine oil spills
The name 'bunker fuel' comes from steam-powered ships, which were powered by coal stored in coal bunkers onboard the ship. Now, ships have fuel tanks, but the name has stuck. Bunker fuel is a widely used marine gas oil fuel used by maritime vessels. While the type of fuel used varies depending on the vessel, larger commercial ocean-going vessels tend to rely on heavy fuel oil (HFO) to generate power.
HFO is the remnant of the distillation and cracking processes, resulting in a tar-like consistency. It contains several compounds, including aromatics, sulphur, and nitrogen, which make emissions upon combustion more polluting than other fuel oils. Due to its very high viscosity and density, HFO released into the environment is a greater threat to flora and fauna compared to other fuels. Its viscosity prevents it from breaking down, and its density means it can pollute both the water column and seabed.
The use of HFO presents several environmental concerns, including the risk of oil spills and the emission of toxic compounds, such as black carbon. HFO is banned as a fuel source for ships travelling in the Antarctic as part of the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters (Polar Code). Despite this, the use and carriage of HFO in the Arctic is commonplace, with over 200 ships entering Arctic waters in 2015 carrying a total of 1.1 million tonnes of fuel. The Arctic is considered a sensitive ecological area, and the environmental risks posed by HFO are concerning for environmentalists and governments in the region.
Bunker spills often occur due to tank overflows or leaks from pipelines or transfer hoses. During his presentation at the GREEN4SEA Conference, Senior Loss Prevention Executive David Nichol noted that spills into the marine environment relating to bunkering operations continue to occur with worrying regularity. With the vast majority of bunker transfers performed without incident, these spills highlight the critical and high-risk nature of bunkering operations, which require careful planning and execution by the crew.
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Frequently asked questions
Bunker fuel is the colloquial term for fuel oil used by marine vessels. It is called bunker fuel because it is stored in a ship's fuel bunker or tank.
Maritime vessels, including cargo ships, bulkers, tankers, and drill platforms, use bunker fuel.
There are three types of bunker fuel: Bunker A, B, and C. Bunker C is the cheapest and most toxic type of bunker fuel.
Bunker fuel is considered to be the "crudest" and "dirtiest" type of fuel oil. It is highly polluting and toxic, and its use has been linked to significant marine oil spills.
