ISO 8217 Products from Petroleum, Synthetic and Renewable Resources - Fuels (Class F) - Characteristics of Marine Fuels

The standard “ISO 8217 Petroleum, synthetic and renewable products derived from fuels - Fuels (class F) - Specification of marine fuels” developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) describes the general requirements and specifications for fuels used in marine diesel engines and boilers before use, prior to fuel handling (storage, sedimentation, centrifugation, filtering, heating) on board.

For the purposes of this standard, the term fuels includes:

Hydrocarbons derived from crude oil, oil sands and shale oil
Hydrocarbons with molecular structures indistinguishable from petroleum hydrocarbons, obtained from synthetic hydrocarbons, renewable hydrocarbons or recycled sources
Fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) where permitted in this standard
Mixtures of any of these (where permitted in this standard)

The general requirements and specifications for fuels mentioned in this standard are also applicable to fuels used in stationary diesel engines of the same or similar type.

This standard specifies seven categories of distillate fuel, one of which is for diesel engines used for emergency purposes. It also specifies four categories of residual fuel having a sulfur content of 0,50 percent by mass or less, five categories of residual fuel containing FAME, and five categories of residual fuel having a sulfur content exceeding 0,50 percent by mass.

Again, for the purposes of this standard, the following terms and definitions apply:

Ultra-low sulfur fuel oil is a marine fuel oil with a maximum sulfur content of 0,10 percent by mass.
Ultra-low sulfur fuel oil is a marine fuel oil with a maximum sulfur content of 0,50 percent by mass.
High-sulfur fuel oil is a marine fuel oil with a sulfur content exceeding 0,50 percent by mass.
Fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) is the ester obtained by transesterification or esterification of oils of vegetable or animal origin.
Bio-based refers to being derived entirely or partially from biomass.
Biofuel is fuel produced directly or indirectly from biomass.
Biomass is material of biological origin, excluding material embedded in geological formations or fossilized.
Biodiesel is a general term for a bio-based fuel with properties similar to diesel fuel, including diesel or bio-based blends. The term is often used to describe a fatty acid methyl ester.
Biodistillate marine fuel is a blend of petroleum distillate marine fuel with bio-based liquid fuel.
Bio-residue marine fuel is a blend of petroleum residue marine fuel with bio-based liquid fuel.
Synthetic hydrocarbon is a liquid hydrocarbon obtained from synthesis.
A renewable hydrocarbon is a liquid hydrocarbon produced from renewable resources. Biomass is an example of a renewable resource.
Paraffinic diesel fuels are liquid hydrocarbons obtained by synthesis or hydrogenation, such as synthetic diesel, renewable diesel, and hydrogenated vegetable oil.
Hydrogenated vegetable oil is a liquid hydrocarbon produced from renewable feedstock by hydrogenation. It is also called renewable diesel or paraffinic diesel fuel.
Liquid hydrocarbons are obtained from the conversion of natural gas or other fossil gaseous hydrocarbons from gas to liquid.
Biomass to liquid hydrocarbons are liquid hydrocarbons obtained by converting biomass to liquid by thermochemical processes (gasification).
They are liquid hydrocarbons obtained by the conversion of power into liquid, electricity.
Stability (stability of residual fuel) is the resistance to breakdown and sedimentation of asphaltic slurry despite exposure to forces such as thermal and ageing stresses while stored and handled under normal operating conditions.
Compatibility is the ability to mix two or more fuels in a defined ratio without evidence of material separation. This can result in the formation of multiple phases, such as flocculation, where dispersed asphaltene particles form larger clumps and can lead to sludge formation.
The cloud point is the temperature at which a cloud of wax crystals first appears in a transparent liquid when cooled under specified conditions.
The cold filter plugging point is the highest temperature value at which a given volume of distillate fuel cannot pass through a standardized filtration device in a specified time when cooled under standardized conditions.
Pour point is the lowest temperature at which a fuel will continue to flow when cooled under specified standard conditions.

This standard specifies the required characteristics of a fuel at the time and place of storage, prior to handling and processing on board. Sampling of a fuel is an essential part of the quality verification of the fuel and should be carried out in accordance with ISO 13739 or an equivalent national standard. The sample should be representative of the total quantity of fuel loaded on the receiving vessel and may be taken from any location agreed between the parties. Testing of the fuel should be carried out in accordance with the test methods described in the tables given in this standard.

Among the numerous testing, measurement, analysis and evaluation studies that our organization has carried out for businesses in various sectors, it also provides certification and testing services defined in the “ISO 8217 Petroleum, synthetic and renewable resource products - Fuels (class F) - Properties of marine fuels” standard with its trained and expert staff and advanced technological equipment.