When the ship enters an area designated by the IMO as an Emission Control Area (ECA), the main and auxiliary engines will have to run on low-sulfur fuels together with the boilers. 

Changeover procedure from regular (HFO) to low sulfur fuel oil (LSFO)

Care should be taken when converting heavy fuel oil (HFO) to low sulfur fuel oil (LSFO) due to possible incompatibilities. As a result, asphalt-based sludge and clogged filters can settle out of the fuel. It may be necessary to switch to marine diesel fuel (MDO) as an intermediate stage and flush out all fuel oil before entering the system with low sulfur fuel oil.
When using low-sulfur fuel oil with standard alkaline circulating and cylinder lubricating oil, the cylinder-piston group can become lacquered, and this can lead to increased wear and increased sediment on the piston heads and rings. If the low-sulfur fuel oil (for powerful ME also cylinder lubricating oil) for the main and auxiliary engines.
The layout of the fuel tanks provides for separate settling and daily service tank for low-sulfur fuel oil. Where storage of a low-sulfur fuel oil in one or more tanks is required, due account shall be taken of its incompatibility with sulfur fuel. Therefore, the tank (s) to be filled with low-sulfur fuel must be emptied as far as possible of any high-sulfur fuel before accepting the bunkers.
When circumstances require, the engine can be used to burn LSFO. Its specifications are like HFO and the requirements for its heating will be similar. However, it may be necessary to adjust the viscosity setting in the viscosity controller, so check and consider the LSFO specifications to see if there are any heating restrictions.
It may also be necessary to change the circulating (crankcase) lubricating oil system, as conventional circulating lube oil contains alkaline substances (reported as a base number (BN)) to neutralize higher levels of acid. The engine manufacturer and lubricant supplier should be consulted before using LSFO for extended periods to ensure that the correct grade of circulating lube oil is used.
When using LSFO for a short time, the lubrication of the cylinders should be reduced for a short time. And if longer working hours are expected, consideration should be given to switching from a cylinder lube oil to a less alkaline lube oil.

 

Last modified: Thursday, 26 January 2023, 12:10 PM