ALL OCEAN NEWS GROUP🙏

When introducing alternative fuels, it is necessary to consider not only technical evaluations but also to understand trends including cost and supply availability. ClassNK provides the latest information on various alternative fuels intended for onboard ship use, covering cost estimations including regulatory compliance, fuel supply forecasts and ordering status for alternative fuel ships through “ClassNK Alternative Fuels Insight.” “ClassNK Alternative Fuels Insight (Version 3.3)” updates a range of information—including trends in the adoption of alternative fuel ships—to reflect the latest data, and adds information on the production volume of bioethanol, a fuel that may see growing demand in the context of future regulatory compliance.

RMK 700 on Board: How a Chief Engineer Survives When the Office Forces «Black Pitch» Due to Port Realities ​Picture this: the vessel arrives for bunkering, the C/E opens the BDN, and there it is—RMK 700, density 0.998+, viscosity like asphalt. Sure, the charter party stipulates good quality. But port reality is harsh: proper fuel is unavailable, and delaying the vessel is prohibited. ​A call to the office is polite and smooth. No shouting or threats—just a soft, smiling nudge: "Well, there are no other options in port, try to do something, you’re an experienced Chief... and if you can't... well, the situation is tough". Nobody ever mentions a ruined record out loud; it’s an unspoken shadow that subtly impacts your career later. ​Left alone with this black pitch, you know: process RMK 700 like regular RMG 380, and you’ll lay up the main engine on voyage one. ​The Physics of Disaster: The Density Trap With density up to 1.010 kg/L, reaching 0.998 hits a critical barrier: ​Fresh water = 1.000 kg/L ​Fuel oil = 0.998 kg/L ​Mass Delta = a mere 0.002. ​Classic separators struggle immensely. While conventional units can sometimes handle it under extreme supervision, your best survival bet is having advanced systems with electronic water sensors. Otherwise, the water seal breaks, shooting fuel into sludge or pumping abrasive cat fines straight into the service tank, leading to: ​FIP Abrasive Wear: Cat fines grind plunger pairs in hours. ​Water Hammer: Unseparated water burns exhaust valves and nozzles. ​Sludge Collapse: Poor stability clogs booster filters every 15 mins. ​C/E Survival Checklist: ​Advanced Purifiers Preferred: While conventional separators can sometimes scrape through, systems with electronic water-content control (like ALCAP or Unitrol) are far better suited for survival. ​Thermal Acceleration (98 °C): Max heating drops oil density faster than water, widening the separation delta. ​Flow Rate Restriction (20–30%): Minimize throughput to catch sludge and cat fines. ​Super-Heated Booster (130–150 °C): Heat to the limit to reach 10–15 cSt before injectors while preventing vapor locks. ​Always demand an extended GC-MS test before burning questionable office-forced batches.