OREANDA-NEWS. December 05, 2014. Neste Oil will bring to the market a low-sulphur marine fuel in accordance with the EU Sulphur Directive requirements entering into force in 2015, and will begin distributing it in mid-December.

The new fuel will significantly reduce sulphur, nitrogen and particle emissions in marine transportation. The Sulphur Directive sets a maximum sulphur limit of 0.1 per cent for marine fuels in the Baltic Sea, the North Sea and the English Channel. Vessels operating in these areas either need to install a sulphur scrubber or make a transition to low-sulphur fuel.

"The new product is considerably more refined than the usual heavy fuel used on vessels today. As a result of improved product quality the new low-sulphur marine fuel keeps the vessel's engine cleaner and prolongs servicing interval of the engine. The fuel's quality also brings savings in operating costs. By using a low-sulphur marine fuel our customers avoid the need to make large changes to their ships, such as installing sulphur scrubbers", Olli Vesamo, Director of Neste Oil's Direct Sales explains.

The product has been tested in different types of engines on five vessels; for example crude carriers M/T Tempera and M/T Mastera. The product worked perfectly in both main and auxiliary engines. The new low-sulphur marine fuel is stable and compatible with middle distillates. It does not create problematic bacterial growth in fuel tanks as it does not contain traditional biodiesel, FAME (fatty acid methyl ester).  

Neste Oil produces high-quality low-sulphur marine fuel at its Porvoo and Naantali refineries and the product will be available at Finnish ports.

New marine fuel will be distributed by bunkering vessel in the Helsinki region. This is a fast, safe and efficient method widely used in many other large European ports. Neste Oil will also export low-sulphur marine fuel.