Union Marine Management Services Pte Ltd Technical Circular

Title Circular Number: Date : 29/12/2014

New ECA Implementation TECHNICAL 11 Prepared By – Tech Dept

Procedure Approved By : QA Page 1 of 3

This Procedure is to comply regulation of Annex VI of MARPOL which will be enforced

st
within SECA/ECA on 1 Jan 2015 (Less than 0.1% of Sulfur content Fuel).

SECA/ECA (Emission Control Area)

The Baltic Sea Area. (Latitude 57-44 to inside Baltic Sea)

a. The North Sea Area. (latitude 62 and West longitude 4 and 5)

b. The United State within 200 nautical miles.
c. The Canada within 200 nautical miles.
d. The United State Caribbean Sea Area. (The Sea area located off the Atlantic and
Caribbean coasts of Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and United States Virgin Island)

REGULATION REQUIREMENT:

 The Sulphur content on the BDN/Bunker Delivery note must be less than 0.1%.
 Vessel must change over to Low Sulphur Fuel prior to entering ECA Region.
 The ship specific change over procedure must be present.
 The record keeping of LSFO/LSMGO bunkering and change over procedure to be kept on
board and readily accessible.
Union Marine Management Services Pte Ltd Technical Circular

Title Circular Number: Date : 29/12/2014

New ECA Implementation TECHNICAL 11 Prepared By – Tech Dept

Procedure Approved By : QA Page 2 of 3

OPERATIONAL PROCEDURE:

Prior to the intended change-over from HFO to LSMGO, we recommend that the
compatibility of the two fuels is checked – preferably at the bunkering stage. The
compatibility can be checked either in an independent laboratory or by using the test kits
onboard. Incompatible fuels may lead to filter blocking and extra focus should be on filter
operation in case of incompatibility.

In order to protect the fuel equipment from thermal shock resulting in sticking, the process
change-over to/from MGO needs careful monitoring of temperature and viscosity. The
operational caution matter are show as follows.

Caution matters:
 The load during this process should be 25-40%.
 During change-over, the temperature increase/decrease rate should be less than 2⁰C/min.
 The viscosity must not drop below 2cSt and not exceed 20cSt.
 Prior bunkering LSMGO – the bunkering tank should be added with chemical (Li5 plus) at
the ratio of 1:4000 ltrs to increase the lubricity.

A: Change-over from HFO to MGO:

 Prior bunkering LSMGO – the bunkering tank should be added with chemical (Li5 plus) at
the ratio of 1:4000 ltrs to increase the lubricity
 The service tank of LSMGO to be topped up one day prior to ECA entry point.
 Table no.1 to be considered for relevant type of vessel for change over time.
 Ensure that the temperature of the MGO in the service tank is on over 2cSt and not exceed
20cSt regarding the expected viscosity at the engine inlet.
 If a ship is operating only on distillate fuels it would be appropriate to consider the degree
to which the ship’s fuel heating arrangements can be de-commissioned, bearing in mind
whether the ship is likely to remain in that area or could be deployed elsewhere. This may
include blanking of heating coils of concerned tank and stop heating of adjacent tanks.
 Reduce the engine load to 25-40% in order to limit the fuel flow rate through the system.
Engine specific guidelines should be followed.
 The steam heating to the FO system should be shut two (2) hours prior change over time
specified in table no.1.FOBAS Calculator to be used to estimate the time required for change
over.
 Temperature change should occur at no more than 2°C per minute, with additional
time built in to allow for uneven rates of change.
 When the FO system comes down to 80~85⁰C, OPEN the LSMGO service tank valve and
SHUT the HFO service tank valve.
 Stop the HO purifier and monitor HO service tank to ensure positive closing of service tank
valve.
Union Marine Management Services Pte Ltd Technical Circular

Title Circular Number: Date : 29/12/2014

New ECA Implementation TECHNICAL 11 Prepared By – Tech Dept

Procedure Approved By : QA Page 3 of 3

 The change over time, position, sulphur content to be recorded as per the requirement.
 To maintain 2Cst at the inlet of engines.
 Cylinder lubrication – TBN 50 – compatible for use in low sulphur fuel. The alpha lubricator
system to be used in ACC mode.

B: Change-over from MGO to HFO:

 Ensure that the temperature of HFP in the service tank is about 80⁰C.
 Reduce the engine load to 25-40%.
 Rise up the temperature of MGO by temperature regulating valve or viscosity controller.
The rate of temperature change of the fuel inlet must not exceed 2⁰C/minute. The viscosity
must not drop below 2cSt and not exceed 20cSt
 Start changing over the fuel. The rate of temperature change of the fuel inlet must not
exceed 2⁰C/minute. The viscosity must not drop below 2cSt and not exceed 20cSt regarding
the expected viscosity at the engine inlet.
 Start heating the system / tracing steam when the viscosity reaches 5cSt.

Table 1:

Estimated change over time which might change as per FOBAS calculator for a specific
ship.

Type of Ship Time for Change over LSMGO

consumption
52 BC 21 hours 16.9MT
58 BC 18.4 hours 16.4MT
82 BC 16.6 hours 16.0MT
98 BC 15.15 hours 16.1 MT
PCTC 15.0 hours 16.0 MT
This circular is to be read in conjunction with following circulars
from Engine makers :
 Mitsui Service Note No.174; guideline for using LSFO (distillate oil)
 Daihatsu technical information No.Gs06-035D: Guide lien for using LS fuel oil.

HARISH JOSHI
GENERAL MANAGER
QUALITY ASSURANCE DEPARTMENT