10-06-2016

Product development of Neste's low-sulfur marine fuels continues

Neste is currently offering two low-sulfur marine fuels, the sulfur content of which is less than 0.1 percent. The products meet the requirements set out in the EU Sulfur Directive for ships operating in the Baltic Sea, North Sea and English Channel.

Neste's low-sulfur marine fuels that are currently available in the market are of a significantly better quality and more refined than heavy fuel oil which is regularly used as a marine fuel. The transition to Neste's low-sulfur marine fuels has been easy because no significant investments have been required.

Neste has continued to develop its low-sulfur marine fuels, and it has been estimated that at the end of 2017 a new product will be launched which has a significantly higher viscosity than the currently available products. The RMG-type product will be compatible with all marine fuels previously developed by Neste.

"The new solvent deasphalting (SDA) unit to be commissioned at our Porvoo Refinery enables the launch of a new type of a product. As a result, we are able to produce a heavier product with a sulfur content of under 0.1 percent and highly competitive other properties compared with distillate-based products available in the market," says Varpu Markkanen, Business Development Manager responsible for the development of oil products at Neste.

Low emissions and high energy efficiency
The advantage of Neste's low-sulfur marine fuels is that they burn much more cleanly than regular heavy fuel oil. Thanks to their good flammability, lower need for heating and cleaner burning, the service life of engines increases, operating costs are lower and maintenance intervals are extended.

Currently, Neste is supplying its low-sulfur marine fuels to, for example, Tallink Grupp's ships that operate in Finnish ports and bunker fuel in Helsinki and Turku. Tallink has had excellent experience:

"Neste's low-sulfur marine fuel has improved the energy efficiency of our engines by an average of three percent compared with heavy fuel oil in addition to the environmentally important feature of low sulphur content. We truly appreciate the high quality and steady performing product and the reliability of Neste's fuel supplies," says Tarvi-Carlos Tuulik, Head of Ship Management of AS Tallink Grupp.

Low-sulfur marine fuels are distributed from Neste's terminals in Naantali and Kokkola, from where products are trucked to all Finnish ports. In addition, ships can be bunkered ex-pipe at the Porvoo and Naantali refinery harbors. Neste has time-chartered the M/T Lotus for bunkering at ports in Helsinki.