Article by Steve Bee, VPS Group Commercial & Business Development Director

The past five years have given rise to numerous high-profile, chemically-contaminated marine fuel cases. Hundreds of vessels have experienced costly engine damages during these events, in Houston (2018 and 2023), Europe (2022) and also in Singapore (2022). In addition to these highly publicised contamination events, there have been many single cases of vessel damage across the world due to the presence of chemical contaminants within fuel. All of these cases, large or small, have shown numerous different chemical contaminants, or combinations of contaminants, which have been identified as being responsible for these damages.

To highlight the consequences of chemically contaminated marine fuel, one recent case study, illustrates perfectly the issues and expense, ship owners and operators can face, when chemicals are present within their fuel.

In April 2023, a Singaporean-owned chemical and product tanker bunkered 415 m/tons of VLSFO in Houston. The vessel began to burn the fuel in May and quickly began to experience numerous issues with the auxiliary and main engines, such as exhaust gas deviating temperatures and the wearing of fuel pumps and plunger barrels. In addition, problems such as start-failure due to insufficient fuel injection, pressure build up, as well as worn out and leaking fuel pumps.

Of greater concern was the complete engine stoppage enroute to the next US port, when the main engine failed. Multiple attempts were made to start the engine, all without success.

Subsequent VPS forensic laboratory testing, utilising a proprietary Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GCMS) Acid Extraction methodology, detected the presence of several phenols and fatty acid compounds within the fuel.

The vessel initiated the necessary repairs to both auxiliary and main engine fuel pumps, at a total spares cost of $200,000.

Following these repairs, Class and Engine Manufacturer representatives attended the vessel to assess both auxiliary and main engine performance. A sea trial was then arranged in order to gain USCG approval to berth and manoeuvre the vessel in US coastal waters.

Eventually towards the end of July the contaminated fuel was de-bunkered in Houston.

Captain Subhangshu Dutt, Managing Director of OM Maritime said, “It seems many more fuel quality details need to be considered while bunkering nowadays in order to avoid such incidents in the future, & chemical screening can be a useful tool to raise the red flag. Prudent testing can also keep us abreast of new contaminants that can enter the bunker market. Using technology and digitalization to trace the upstream history of the fuel could be considered. A perfect world would be when rigorous & relevant testing procedures are completed before the fuel is declared “fit” to be delivered on board”.

Hindsight with this and many other cases, would see ship owners and operators, looking for a more pro-active, pre-burn means of detecting the presence of volatile contaminants within their fuel. The VPS Chemical Screening service provides such a solution and ensures a higher level of vessel protection.

Since 2018, 41% of vessels engaged in the VPS fuel testing programme, have used the numerous Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GCMS) services available to detect chemical contaminants within fuel.

Focusing specifically on the GCMS-Head Space Chemical Screening service, 19.9% of applicable marine fuel samples received by VPS since 2018, have undertaken this rapid, pre-burn protection service, with an average 8% of samples tested, giving rise to a “Caution” result, indicating the presence of at least one chemical contaminant.

VPS report GCMS-HS screening results within 24-hours of sample receipt and once a “Caution” result is identified, VPS customers can immediately place their supplier on notice, pending further investigation, avoiding restrictive time-bar agreements.

Further investigation usually begins with a GCMS-HS Extended analysis, followed by more detailed forensic GCMS analysis, if required.

However, the initial GCMS-HS chemical screening service offers great benefits and value to VPS customers, as an inexpensive, rapid detection service, prior to the fuel being burnt. To put this into context, the $200,000 cost of replacement parts highlighted in the above case study, could have provided over 3,500 GCMS-HS screening tests.

A Swedish Club report in 2018, stated the average cost of a single fuel-related damage case is $344,000. With current fuel prices at $700/mt and an average bunker stem of 1,000mt, then a single GCMS-HS screening test to check for the presence of volatile chemicals within that one fuel delivery, equates to less than 0.008% of the cost of the fuel. Yet this service would provide a much greater level of protection to the vessel and avoid the risks associated with volatile chemicals within marine fuel.  Which raises a final thought-provoking question, “Can you afford not to screen your fuel for chemicals?”

To find out more about VPS chemical contamination detection services, please contact steve.bee@vpsveritas.com

By Sindre Stemshaug Bornstein, VP Commercial Decarbonisation

The crews on the REM PSV fleet recently rallied behind the common goal of increasing the fuel efficiency. The results speak for themselves. Over the course of three months the fleet increased its fuel efficiency by a baffling 9.8%. This translates directly to emission cuts and cost savings, totaling 1700 tons of CO2 emissions saved and a fuel value in excess of half a million dollars.

The objective of the REM Offshore campaign was to proactively reduce vessel emissions levels in key modes of operation, such as dynamic positioning (DP), standby, port and transit eco. To do this, a specific part of the project was built around identifying and overcoming technical and operational barriers. In three of the four modes of operation double-digit savings was achieved during the campaign period. Some vessels even saw savings >20% in certain operational modes. The detailed analytics and measurement of savings was done by leveraging the high-quality fuel and operational data REM is collecting through the VPS Maress datadriven decarbonisation solution.

REM HSEQ Manager Iliyan Aleksandrov commented: "REM has committed to optimising the energy consumption of our operations and being an active player in the ongoing transition to a more sustainable maritime industry. We achieved our ISO 50001 certification this year, and amongst other initiatives, we were excited to extend our working relationship with VPS Decarbonisation on this campaign. Crew dedication, strong focus on energy efficiency and consumption optimization, combined with VPS´ decarb advisory service and Maress software were the key factors in achieving the amazing results”.

One example of a challenge that is a cause for excessive fuel burn was when vessels are in transit and receive speed demands from charterers that might not align with fuelefficient speeds. The challenge for the crew is to then strike the right balance between vessel speed, fuel efficiency, prevailing weather conditions, and safety.

By using available data and insight around this to engage in close discussions with the charterers it is possible to fine-tune speed based on vessel capabilities and conditions. Closer, data-driven interaction between vessel owner and charterer is often a win-win situation, where the end-result is more efficient vessel operations. In the campaign, REM was also able to use the data collected in Maress to calculate the economic speed of each vessel and pairing this with sailing forecast data led to improved voyage planning and speed management.

"What gets measured gets managed", says Emilian Buksak, Senior Decarb Advisor with VPS. He worked closely with the crew and onshore organization during the planning and execution of the campaign. "The results we see from campaigns like this are just incredible. It was truly motivating to see the whole REM organisation start utilising available data and analytics in new ways. We started seeing patterns and improvement areas that would have been difficult to uncover without high quality data collection and analytics such as provided by the Maress software solution. However, finding the answers is one thing, but there would be no savings if it wasn´t for the focus and eagerness of the crews to really take it to the next level", Emilian continues.

Once a new efficiency level and fleet baseline has been demonstrated in a campaign such as this, it is key to avoid falling back into old patterns. A few ingredients that improve the chances of sustained results are; a continued focus from the organisation and a company culture built around celebrating best practices - in combination with a solid system for showing data-driven insights. Looking ahead, Iliyan and Emilian discuss with enthusiasm about the next initiatives on the list to reduce fuel and emissions further. They are in full agreement that -even though big strides have been taken and the REM vessels are more efficient than most "...there is more potential to be tapped!"

REM Offshore CEO, Lars Conradi Andersen sums it up "Decarbonisation is the way forward for our industry. What we have achieved and learned during this campaign will be further implemented within our fleet operational practices to make sure REM continues to be a leader in innovation and green initiatives towards the zero-emission long term target". And, if you have been wondering which of the REM PSVs that saw the biggest savings in the campaign, the answer is REM Cetus. Congratulations to the crew.

About REM Offshore 

Rem Offshore was incorporated in 2017 with the management located in Fosnavåg. The fleet currently consists of 19 vessels in operation and 1 vessel under construction. Rem Offshore has operations world-wide, ranging from Taiwan through India, to the North Sea and Guyana. Rem Offshore forms a key part of the maritime cluster in Norway, combining unrivalled depth of talent with the most modern fleet of vessels in the offshore industry. With roots tracing back to the entrepreneurial fishing industry in the 1970s Rem Offshore has in recent years developed a strong presence in both the renewable, oil and gas and seismic OBN markets.  

About VPS  

VPS is a world-leading maritime decarbonisation advisory and services company, dedicated to innovation and sustainability. VPS helps maritime companies to identify pathways towards more sustainable operations - by providing insights, digital tools and advice along the entire marine fuels and emissions value chain. VPS is a pioneer in the marine fuel testing industry with over 40 years of experience and has an established position as the clear market leader.

VPS´ data-driven decarbonisation solution Maress combines available data from vessels with other relevant datasets to provide insights on how to reduce fuel and emissions.

For inquiries, please contact VP Commercial Decarbonisation, Sindre Stemshaug Bornstein: +47 977 500 023 / sibo@v-p-s.com 

By John Oosthoek, VP Digital & Ruben Hofsli, Maritime Decarbonisation Manager

Maritime shipping, which already is the most carbon efficient way of transporting goods, accounts for over 80% of world trade transports and for only 2.1% of the world's carbon dioxide emissions (World Shipping Council, 2023). In this global industry, where ships navigate a myriad of issues in a ceaseless dance of commerce and transport, our customers are facing a critical challenge – decarbonising their fleet operations.

Illustrated by initiatives such as the carbon intensity indicator (CII), a regulation introduced by the IMO in 2022, as well as the European Union’s FuelEU maritime initiative entering into force in 2025, there are growing societal and regulatory pressures on the shipping sector to reduce their environmental footprint. Clear targets have been recently revised by the IMO: 20% emissions reduction by 2030 and 70% by 2040 to reach net zero by 2050.

A key aspect in the pathway towards decarbonisation of the shipping sector is the efficient use of marine fuels. The quality and composition of marine fuels directly impact vessel performance, environmental sustainability, and operational costs. As the global leader in testing the quality of marine fuels, VPS assists its customers to navigate the complexities of marine fuel procurement, -treatment and -management. In this article, we delve into the growing role of data-driven decision-making in the shipping industry, with a specific focus on how our customers are harnessing our data analytics solutions such as PortStats and Maress to optimise fuel procurement decision-making, prevent off-spec fuels from causing vessel downtime and reduce the environmental footprint of their fleet.

Using PortStats to anticipate fuel off-specs and optimise calorific value
Let us consider the case of a fuel procurement Director at a large ship owner-operator. As this company both owns the vessels and operates them, any fuel costs, as well as costs due to unplanned maintenance events directly impact the company’s bottom-line. The fleet typically bunkers in hubs such as Singapore, Rotterdam and Houston, but also has some fuel deliveries planned in other ports such as Cartagena, Port Klang and Lome.

This user experienced two clear benefits from using our PortStats solution:

1. By using PortStats to benchmark their existing fuel deliveries in Singapore, Rotterdam and Houston, the company was able to cherry-pick the most reliable suppliers in these ports, whilst also getting higher calorific value fuels in the process. This saved the company ca. 80,000 MT of marine fuel per year purely on energy.

2. The company was also able to prevent off-specs from negatively affecting their vessels. The user noticed a relatively high number of cat fines and TSP off-specs with one of their short-listed suppliers.

Whilst this may have been the top choice based on price, the company used the quality scorecards feature in PortStats to evaluate the market situation, and ended up going with the slightly more expensive alternative, which had much lower AlSi and no TSP off-specs, thus mitigating any consequent risks for engine damage.

"I would just like to say that this tool is truly amazing. With the new advanced supplier benchmarking feature in PortStats, you have gold in your hands for the bunker buyers and traders." - Director Fuel Procurement

Poor fuel management is one of the top three immediate causes for main engine damage, with an average cost of ca. $344,000 per incident (The Swedish Club, 2018). PortStats helps users to prevent off-specs and to be aware of potential operational considerations based on the quality of the fuels before bunkering. Furthermore, as the calorific value of marine fuels is an important decision-making factor, PortStats makes this variable transparent, giving bunker buyers and traders and important lever in determining the true value of a bunker stem.

Using Maress to optimise fuel efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions
Now let us consider the case of connecting data from ship-to-shore. Nowadays, the majority of shipowners have operational data flowing from their vessels to their shore facilities in one way or another. Some of them have advanced systems in place, with high frequency data being available, whilst others rely on noon-reports. Typically, the equipment and technology that is available differs from vessel to vessel. The challenge then becomes to assess whether the available data is good enough and how to utilise this data to gain valuable insights.

Maress is the VPS solution focused on helping shipowners to systemise the data they already have at their disposal. Through visualising and reporting this data, Maress creates data transparency for our customers when it comes to fuel consumption. As a result, these companies are able to increase their focus on fuel efficiency across the board - from the crew onboard of the vessels to the onshore operational staff supporting them.

The Tidewater Case
One of these shipowners with a large and diverse fleet is Tidewater. For years, they have reported fuel consumption in a system where consumption and activity are mapped, but it was hard to measure any changes other than on a monthly or yearly basis. It was even harder to see if there was anything wrong with the reported numbers. As a result, fuel consumption data was not actively used to improve the fuel efficiency for the Tidewater fleet.

Maress was introduced in late 2020 for the Norwegian Tidewater fleet, using historical data that Tidewater had from the beginning of 2018. We started by simply uploading the history data in Maress. Now that the data was visual for all crew and onshore staff, it became much clearer for them to see what they should focus on. One important aspect of the success story of Tidewater was that they got the vessels’ crews involved with Maress early on in the process, for example by writing comments in Maress on what they have done to improve fuel efficiency and to discuss the challenges they meet during offshore operations that have an impact on the fuel consumption.

Some of these challenges included: technical problems on board of the vessels, at installation or at the onshore base, orders from the charterer to increase the speed during transits or severe weather conditions. The crews were also sharing what they did to improve fuel efficiency, such as reducing speed to transit on one engine, active communication with the charterer on when they needed to be at the location to help optimise the transit and stopping of unnecessary fuel consumption in port. From the onshore staff’s side, the customer now had a tool to use when communicating internally, as well as with clients. They also now have the possibility to discuss how the vessel’s operations can affect its fuel consumption.

One concrete example of this was when their shore staff was analysing the data, and they noticed that one vessel was using the same amount of fuel per hour in Standby (waiting on the offshore field), as they did when they were in Full DP mode, working close to the installation. The data was clear, and the onshore operational team then asked the captains about this. The reply was short: “In standby, we put the vessel in full DP so we are ready if the installation needs us, and we have done it like this for six years.” After some internal discussions, they agreed on a new approach. In cooperation with the installation, they agreed on a response time for work. This allowed the vessel to drift more while waiting, which reduced the required engine power substantially. As a result, they decreased fuel consumption while in standby by ca. 30%. Without Maress to visualise the data and to provide the actionable insights to both the shore staff as well as the vessel’s crew, it would have been difficult to catch this.

In the period from 2020 through 2022, the Norwegian Tidewater fleet reduced fuel consumption with an incredible 20% (ca.), simply by increasing their data awareness and focus on fuel efficiency by using Maress as their data-driven decision-making tool.

Over time and without any high-cost CAPEX, the quality of the fuel consumption reports improved rapidly. Their fleet’s fuel efficiency was improving simply because the data was visualised in a user-friendly and understandable way. Tidewater then adopted the reporting scheme globally and then expanded their subscription to Maress to the global fleet. Cooperation, communication, and crew involvement were the key success factors that made the Tidewater case a success story in the path to more fuel-efficient operations.

Contact
For more information please contact:
john.oosthoek@vpsveritas.com
ruben.hofsli.eikeland@vpsveritas.com

Press Release by Steve Bee

In January 2021, VPS - world leaders in marine fuel testing and bunker quantity surveys - celebrates 40 incredible years of sustainable innovation.

Our innovative thinking has led to the development and implementation of improvements in marine fuel testing and bunker quantity surveys across the world. All this is designed to give our customers the practical advice, support and insight they need to run a more profitable, efficient business, coupled with creating positive environmental change. To honour our 40th anniversary, we’re highlighting two key achievements VPS has delivered to the maritime industry over the past few decades  – and in two different, valuable ways.

Helping to cut sulphur emissions by 67%

In 2004, the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) brought into force their directive to reduce emissions from shipping under MARPOL Annex VI.

By looking at the sulphur levels VPS have tested between 2004-2020, we saw an incredible 67% reduction in sulphur emissions.

We will continue to work closely with our customers to reduce sulphur emissions, and cut the levels of carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas emissions.

And because we never stop pushing to achieve more, we’re helping in other ways too.

Reducing fuel system failures by 50%

Our Fuel System Check (FSC) process has helped operators all over the world save time, resource and money by identifying areas of critical concern.

CASE STUDY: A non-functioning separator aboard one vessel led to the complete failure of two new pumps. The subsequent repair costs ran to USD 75-100 thousand in addition to the inability to maintain the required speed for its itinerary.

THE RESULT: FSC conducted by our experts at VPS saved this one business hundreds of thousands of USD in maintenance, repair costs and operational reliability. After partnering with VPS, their fuel system failure rate was reduced by 50% (this is lower than the cruise line industry benchmark).

We also instigated the 100% monitoring of all their vessels along with actionable insights for continuous improvement.

The VPS Innovation in Sustainability Awards

Only by continually innovating and improving can we overcome the environmental challenges we know – and the ones we’ve yet to face.

At VPS, we believe it is our responsibility to encourage, inspire and support the next generation of game-changers wherever they are in the world. So to celebrate our 40th anniversary and highlight our dedication to innovation in sustainability, we are looking ahead to the next 40 years with the most ambitious programme we have ever undertaken.

We are excited and honoured to be leading this initiative and to help inspire effective, sustainable change. We’ll keep you updated later in the year  as this initiative is launched.

As always, do get in touch if you would like  to know more about VPS and our services marketing@vpsveritas.com

By Sindre Bornstein, VP Commercial Decarbonisation

Sustainable data-driven decarbonisation to achieve emissions targets

Market drivers within the maritime industry are -without doubt- changing. Consensus is building around the need to reduce maritime emissions and we are beginning to see the emergence of tomorrow´s winners. Having a lowcarbon footprint and a credible strategy for the transition towards sustainable operations are becoming key targets for the global fleet. Further, there is a new expectancy for data access and emissions transparency from stakeholders such as clients, investors, employees, media and authorities.

The questions every vessel owner/operator/charterer need to ask themselves at this point is are we doing enough? Are we using our vessel data in a smart way to make the right strategic decisions to reduce the fleet emissions and maintain our competitive position?

The Maress software developed by VPS Yxney, is designed to provide decision makers with the necessary insight in this transition. It has been designed and built in close dialogue with leading vessel operators. In short, Maress uses available data to help decarbonise maritime operations by creating insight, transparency and network collaboration.  

Last year, Maress clients achieved a CO2 reduction of more than 60,000 tons. Having the right operational insight and analytics allows for precise decisions on what initiatives to take, and to measure the outcomes of those initiatives. At VPS Yxney, we believe that it is key to implement solutions that enable decision-makers at operational and strategic levels to see the same picture - and to create the foundation for a new form of dialogue underpinning a culture of change.

Taking the necessary steps to becoming a fully data-driven company may seem overwhelming to many. It’s very easy to get stranded at the starting blocks. Building the necessary competence and choosing an affordable yet applicable technical set-up can seem huge hurdles to overcome. However, with Maress, the vessel owner has the flexibility to use data from existing  systems on the vessels and connect via the cloud. This allows for a cost effective and quick roll-out across entire fleets. Indicative savings on a fleet level in the range of 3-7% provides for a solid return on investment.

Vessel owners, crews, and end clients will easily gain a holistic understanding of the efficiency and emissions footprint from whole fleets and single vessels. ...and not least, what measures to take to reduce emissions. We call it datadriven decarbonisation.

For more information on how your company can smartly use data to improve operational performance and achieve significant emissions reductions, please reach out to Sindre Stemshaug Bornstein at Sindre.Stemshaug.Bornstein@vpsveritas.com

VPS was approached by ITN Productions, a leading world news media company based in the UK, with a request to participate in a documentary programme they were planning to make in conjunction with the Institute of Marine Engineers (IMarEST). This documentary, entitled “Resilient Ocean”, will focus on the importance of the health and sustainability of our seas and how the various contributors to the documentary are assisting in ensuring the well-being of our oceans.

VPS is firmly focused on not only our own sustainable approach to business operations, but of equal importance, on how we can assist and support all our clients in achieving their sustainability goals and targets. Therefore we welcomed the opportunity to be involved in this documentary.

Click here to view the preview video of the VPS part of the programme

VPS Press Release

The maritime industry is changing fast to meet ambitious emissions targets and decarbonisation requirements set by the IMO, EU and Port Authorities. Ship operators are looking for help on how to optimise their operations and adapt to these sustainable business drivers to meet new regulations. New technologies and fuels are entering the market to help vessels operate more efficiently and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. VPS is responding to the needs of our customers by diversifying our service offering, and to provide support and guidance on how to decarbonise.

VPS is pleased to announce the appointment of Andrew Morton to the role of Managing Director AMEA (Asia, Middle East and Africa). In this role, Andrew will apply his experience and knowledge to lead the delivery of VPS services to these important and growing regions. He joins VPS having spent the last 17 years working in the oil and gas industry, most recently with TotalEnergies in various positions and countries. These included technical, commercial, management, mergers and acquisitions and most recently the New Energies space, including renewable energy, biogas and fuels, hydrogen and LNG. He has a BSc (Hons) in Chemistry and started his career in research and development in the lubricants industry for Fuchs.

Dr. Malcolm Cooper, VPS CEO, stated “We are delighted to welcome Andrew on board as our MD AMEA. His background and experience will be helpful in supporting our customers in these important Regions, particularly in the rapidly developing decarbonisation space.”  

Andrew Morton said "I am delighted to join VPS and the team and take over the role of Managing Director - Asia, Middle East and Africa. It is a privilege to join the global market leader and to manage a zone where the maritime industry is growing. I look forward to working with the various companies and associations across the industry to help them with their decarbonisation journey."

VPS is also pleased to announce that Captain Rahul Choudhuri has been appointed to the newly created role of President Strategic Partnerships. In this role, Rahul will use his network to enhance and further develop relationships with customers and operators from across the shipping ecosystem to help VPS support their decarbonisation journey.

Dr. Malcolm Cooper, VPS CEO, stated “Captain Rahul is well-known across the Maritime sector and he has been the figurehead for VPS Asia and the Middle East for many years. He has been instrumental in many developments within VPS and across the shipping industry, making significant contributions to developments through a wide range of Committees and organisations. His new role will enable him to focus more on our external relationships, which are of growing importance as we aim to support the shipping sector on it’s decarbonisation journey. We in VPS are very proud of Rahul’s achievements to date and we know there will be more to come.”

Rahul stated, ”I am looking forward to this new opportunity. This role will allow me to use my experience and close relationships to strengthen, build and develop the industry partnerships needed to deliver new decarbonization solutions offered by VPS. My work with industry associations allows a greater professional engagement with stakeholders to take the industry forward in challenging times”.

We are pleased to announce that Capt. Rahul Choudhuri , President of Strategic Partnerships at VPS,  will be a featured speaker at the upcoming IBIA Annual Convention 2023 in Dubai, UAE.

Date & Time:
Wednesday 8 November | 15:00

Session Four:
The future of fuel, sustainability in shipping, and carbon Indexing and offsetting in the Bunker and Shipping Industry
Capt. Choudhuri will take the stage on a panel to explore three critical topics that are shaping the future of the maritime industry: the shift towards alternative fuels, the quest for sustainability, and the role of carbon indexing and offsetting.

Venue
Queen Elizabeth 2
Bur Dubai
Dubai, Port Rashid, United Arab Emirates

Please register your attendance here