DNV DNV-RP-D202 PDF

Introduction

The objective of this Recommended Practice is to provide guidance to the crew in order to prepare for the attendance necessary for issuance of statements for witnessing of Low Sulphur Fuel (LSF) changeover and/or operations. Sec.2 and Sec.3 address various tests performed to demonstrate the capability of the vessel to conduct fuel changeover and to operate on LSF. Finally Sec.4 briefly touches upon some common problems when changing over from Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) to distillate fuel.

DNV offers this service for vessels from any class society.

Regulations in Europe (EU Directive 2005/33/EC) and the United States (California Code of Regulation title 13/17) require vessels trading in the EU or California to use low sulphur Marine Diesel Oil (MDO) or Marine Gas Oil (MGO), hereafter called LSF.

The California legislation contains specific requirements for operation on MGO / MDO whereas the EU legislation only specifies a maximum upper limit to the sulphur content of marine fuels. No reference is made to MGO, although for all practical reasons this is considered to be the only products which meets the limitations to the sulphur content.

The low viscosity associated with especially the latter requires many vessels to make alterations to their machinery installations in order to enable operation on LSF.

Class has no specific requirements to the fuels used on board and hence no specific requirements to these alterations other than that they need to comply with Class Rules.

Where applicable alterations to systems and components are subject to approval by Class, i.e. drawings need to be submitted and approved prior to commencement of the alterations and after completion these alterations need to be verified and tested during an on board survey.

Though not required by Classification, ship operators may be asked by e.g. charter parties to provide a statement pertaining to the capability of the vessel to operate on LSF, the effectiveness of fuel changeover procedures, or both. In such cases DNV may issue a statement in the form of a witness statement, after an on board attendance has shown that the machinery can be operated on LSF and/or the fuel changeover has been witnessed.

DNV offers three types of witness statements:

— Statement for witnessing fuel changeover.

— Statement for witnessing operation of machinery on distillate fuel as defined by EU directive 2005/33/EC and California Code of regulation title 13/17.

— Statement for witnessing operation of machinery on distillate fuel.