Coast Guard warns on fuel contamination in US Gulf

Babatunde Scott |

The US Coast Guard (USCG) has issued a marine safety alert over fuel contamination in the US Gulf region.

The Port of Houston has been hit with a contamination issues that is causing the sticking of fuel plungers, and fuel pump seizures failures on a large number of vessels.

“This fuel oil contamination could lead to engine failures and associated losses of propulsion potentially having catastrophic and wide ranging consequences,” USCG said.

Fuel tester VPS has identified the presence of 4-Cumyl-Phenol which is used in the manufacture of epoxy resins and as an emulsifier in pesticides, both of which utilize the adhesive qualities 4-cumyl-phenol exhibits, but the source of the contamination remains unknown but is believed to originate from the use of fuel oil cutter stocks.

“The Coast Guard recommends that vessel owners and managers ensure vessel operators are made aware of this potential hazardous condition, closely monitor fuel oil system components and consult their bunker suppliers and other technical service providers regarding this issue,” the USCG notice said.

The standard fuel oil tests for the ISO 8217 specification do not detect the underlying problems.