Fuel initiative will put strain on engines

The issue relates to the Fuel Quality Directive, which specifies the use of ultra-low sulphur fuel in place of the ‘Red Diesel’ currently used will mean up to 7% biodiesel content.

There are a number of areas of contention. One is the delineation between ‘seagoing’ and ‘inland waters’, since the legislation applies to ‘inland’ craft. One of the proposals on the table is to use the MCA categories of waters which, for example, class the whole of the Solent as well as even the lower reaches of the Thames as ‘inland’. A number of UK harbours could be caught up in this distinction although, as Nigel Saw of the British Marine Federation told MJ, ‘Nothing is set in stone as yet and we are having ongoing meetings with the Department for Transport’.

Mr Saw also explained that there could be a compatibility problem with older engines (any over ten years old) and related difficulties even with some of the current flexible hoses which deliver fuel to the engine.

Biodiesel is itself corrosive, plus the moulds and bacteria that live in it can also cause oxidisation. Mr Saw added, ‘A bit of fuel from a leaky tank on a piece of farm machinery probably won’t be noticed. Put it in the bilge and you have a fire risk.’

Biodiesel is more prone to the so-called diesel bugs, which can sludge everything from filters to pipes, because it picks up more water than ordinary diesel, creating a good environment for the bugs to breed.

Unlike running a car, you return some fuel to the tank in most marine applications.‘This fuel goes back to the engine 20° hotter so as one side of the tank is usually colder than the other, the result is condensation.

Marine fuels are often stored temporarily by the sea, and since the throughput volumes are high simply because tugs and high speed craft require a lot of power, there is no time for the water to settle out of the fuel before delivery.

However, consultation is ongoing. Chris Ford of the BMF said, ‘We are fairly confident that although it will inevitably mean compromise, we will achieve a workable solution that addresses the main concerns of the industry. The final decision will be made by the Minister at the end of November.’