When DNV Petroleum Services (DNVPS) launched its marine residual fuel testing service on January 1, 1981, ship operators for the first time were able to scientifically analyse the quality of fuel supplied to their vessels.
Prior to that, ship operators were unable to comprehensively predetermine the quality of bunkers to be consumed by their vessels. This became a serious constraint during the Oil Crisis in the 1970s when the increased application of "deep conversion", high-yield refining techniques caused residual fuel quality to deteriorate considerably.
In turn, the shipping community saw a drastic increase in damages to fuel pumps, piston rings, cylinder liners and other costly engine parts on board their vessels.
The DNV Fuel Quality Testing (FQT) programme was therefore a significant breakthrough as ship operators enrolled in the programme could then detect poor quality bunkers delivered to their vessels and take appropriate actions, said DNVPS Managing Director Tore Morten Wetterhus.
DNVPS went on to develop and disclose its proprietary test method for determining fuel metals content, including the highly abrasive aluminium and silicon compounds commonly found in heavy residual fuel. This test method became the basis for the IP377 procedure adopted by both ASTM and ISO.
The DNV FQT programme is today the biggest service of its kind in the shipping industry, with a cumulative volume of over 1.4 million tested fuel samples.
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