VESSELS in Singapore and Rotterdam have been reporting operational problems as a result of using marine fuel blended with cashew nutshell liquid biofuel, fuel testing agency CTI-Maritec revealed in an advisory.
Samples from affected ships were tested by the agency which said it found the marine fuel was blended with cashew nutshell liquid that came from undeclared source materials or production processes.
Operational problems including fuel sludging, injector failure, filter clogging, system deposits, and corrosion of turbocharger nozzle rings were reported by the ships, according to the agency.
“In light of the reported problems, CTI-Maritec swiftly carried out extended Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) testing for Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (VLSFO) samples from these said vessels,” the agency said in a statement.
“All mentioned compounds, which are substituted long chain phenols, indicated the fuel was blended with Cashew Nutshell Liquid.”
CTI-Maritec advised shipowners not to use 100% cashew nut liquid as either a marine fuel or as a blending component, and to not use other unestablished bio-products as fuel.
According to the agency, their use would contravene guidance from the International Maritime Organisation on supply of fuel oil to ships.
The vessels and shipping lines involved were not named by the agency, nor were the exact number of ships reported to have been affected.
CNSL is a non-FAME (fatty acid methyl ester) BioFuel, which is a naturally occurring byproduct of the cashew nut industry and acts as a low-cost alternative renewable fuel.
Though having been touted as an alternative renewable fuel, it reportedl yalso has high acid values and is corrosive.
Alternative biofuels have gained popularity in the maritime industry in recent years as an alternative to traditional marine fuels, in order to reduce carbon emissions.
CTI-Maritec said there is no marine fuel specification available for cashew nut liquid from any authorised body.
