Maersk Oil Trading and Koole Terminals will start producing 0.5 per cent sulphur marine fuel in Rotterdam that meets upcoming regulations. Production will take place at the Petrochemical Industrial Distillation (PID) unit, located at Koole’s Botlek site in the heart of the Port of Rotterdam.

The International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) 2020 0.5 per cent sulphur fuel cap will be implemented globally as of 1 January 2020. The toll distillation deal allows Maersk to produce Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (VLSFO) bunker fuel and will enable Maersk to further expand its bunker supply volumes in Europe. Annual production is expected to cover five to ten per cent of Maersk’s annual fuel demand.

Ensuring Stability

‘The fuel manufacturing process allows Maersk to produce compatible low sulphur fuels that comply with the IMO 2020 sulphur cap implementation, reducing the need to rely on 0.1 per cent price-based gas oil and fuel oil outside the ECAs. Our activities with Koole will be an important driver in ensuring stable, reliable services for Maersk’s customers during a potentially volatile period for global shipping,’ said Niels Henrik Lindegaard, Head of Maersk Oil Trading at A.P. Moller – Maersk.

0.1 Per Cent Sulphur Fuel

Bunker fuels within the Emission Control Areas (ECAs) will remain at the current cap of 0.1 per cent sulphur. Koole’s PID unit will also enable Maersk the possibility to produce such ECA 0.1 per cent sulphur fuel.

Picture: Koole Terminals Rotterdam (by Koole Terminals).