GP Global has successfully delivered the first International Maritime Organization (IMO) 2020-compliant bunker load of low-sulphur fuel oil (LSFO). 

The global conglomerate made this maiden delivery via its 6,000-tonner bunker barge at Fujairah, which will help serve the Port of Fujairah as well as adjoining ports, enabling the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to meet the IMO directive.

This first bunkering of LSFO anticipates the new IMO regulation that takes effect next year to secure a cleaner marine environment.

GP Global’s GPB1 is capable of delivering a comprehensive suite of residual and distillate marine fuels, including low-sulphur marine gasoil (LSMGO), LSFO, 180 CST and 380 CST at the UAE ports. The company has three more barges at Fujairah, of which the largest, GBP2, will be dedicated exclusively for LSFO to meet the growing requirements in the region, expected from mid-October.

The achievement by GP Global follows the announcement by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) regarding the specification for IMO 2020-grade bunkers. The specification describes how the current ISO 8217 standard can be applied for the new fuels, with technical advice for kinematic viscosity, cold-flow properties, stability and ignition characteristics, among others.