Date: 20th April 2008
Panama Fuel Quality Alert
It has been reported and confirmed by samples seen by GMT that there are some concerns with higher than usual Al+Si with some fuels from Balboa, Panama.
Levels are seen only marginally above the 80 mg/Kg specification limit defined by ISO8217:2005 which emphasizes the need for all fuels to be adequately treated through centrifuge operations. GMT would encourage any operators using fuels from this area bunkered within the last 3 weeks to also submit samples for purifier efficiency monitoring.
(See GMT website “Our Services” for more details)
It should be noted that with this higher level of abrasives there can be faster rates of wear of moving parts such as piston rings, fuel pumps, cylinder liners etc.
If any readers have concerns on this item or any others they should immediately contact GMT via the website, email info@gmtlab.com or the below phone numbers.
Update: 28th April 2008
Fuel quality in Panama appears to have returned to normal. Therefore this Fuel Quality Alert is now closed.
Technical Department
Guardian Marine Testing Ltd.
Telephone: +44 (0)1642 440991
Telefax: +44 (0)1642 458537
Email: technical@gmtlab.com
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