Parker Kittiwake Launches Portable Fuel Sulfur Content Test

Parker Kittiwake, a leading global manufacturer of condition monitoring technologies, has today announced the launch of its ground-breaking X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) Analyser, a portable testing device which, among other parameters, measures the sulphur content in fuel. The XRF provides an accurate indication of sulphur content through the analysis of a small fuel sample in less than three minutes. This gives both shipowners and Port State Control (PSC) the ability to conduct laboratory-standard testing onsite, before non-compliant fuel is bunkered and before a vessel carrying non-compliant fuel leaves port.
 
Traditional methods for confirming compliance with sulphur limits rely on paperwork requirements such as the Bunker Delivery Note (BDN). This not only significantly increases the risk of non-compliance and subsequent penalties for shipowners, but also heightens the environmental impact of burning fuel with a higher sulphur content. In addition, the delay incurred by laboratory analysis creates the risk that the vessel may have left port with non-compliant fuel onboard, or may require non-compliant fuel to be de-bunkered and compliant fuel re-bunkered, incurring significant delays and additional cost. The XRF Analyser provides a spot-check analysis of the sulphur content in fuel on site, allowing PSC to ascertain compliance almost instantly, and affording shipowners the opportunity to avoid fines, plus the time, expense and operational impact of bunkering non-compliant fuel. 
 
Larry Rumbol, Marine Condition Monitoring Manager, commented: “Given the lack of environmental policing on the high seas, enforcement of the 2020 global sulphur cap is a daunting challenge for the industry. Efforts to develop robust enforcement solutions tend to focus on paperwork checks at ports, but this must be reinforced by accurate, reliable testing data. 
 
“Shipowners and operators are fighting an uphill battle to ensure they can effectively prove compliance. And Port State Control needs a way to ascertain compliance quickly and onsite, allowing them to take timely and appropriate action. With significant confusion over the stipulations in the way sulphur measurements are made - for example it is possible for fuel to pass ISO 4259 commercial tests but fail against MARPOL standards - it is clear that both parties require easy access to the data they need to accurately check and prove compliance.”

The XRF Analyser is factory calibrated according to the ISO 8754 standard, and is capable of conducting field measurements that correlate strongly with laboratory measurements. Fuel can be easily sampled at any stage of the bunkering process, and test results can be stored electronically, allowing operators to manage compliance audits more efficiently.
 
Rumbol continued: “Effective enforcement is at the heart of the sulphur cap, and onboard testing is the most efficient means of establishing compliance with sulphur regulations. The XRF Analyser can be used to test the fuel and verify the sulphur content against what’s stated on the BDN, eliminating the risk of accidental non-compliance.”

In addition to sulphur testing, the XRF Analyser can be used to measure a range of wear metals in lubricating oil, allowing operators to quickly identify potential damage in cylinder liners, bearings, piston rings, gears, stern tubes and hydraulic systems.
 
Integrated into a small, lightweight housing, the XRF is easily portable for ‘plug-and-play’ operation. Test results are displayed as a percentage on an LCD screen, avoiding ambiguity and mitigating the risk of human error through operators needing to interpret the test data.
 
For more than two decades, Parker Kittiwake has designed, developed and manufactured condition monitoring and test equipment for lube oil, hydraulic oil and fuels. Engineers the world over use Parker Kittiwake equipment to gain vital insights into the health of their vessels’ engines or to measure fuel quality and compatibility. Sustained investment in R&D over the last 25 years has enabled Parker Kittiwake to develop innovative and fit-for-purpose equipment for the accurate of in-service lubricants, hydraulics, wear metals, fuels, gases and acoustic emissions. In addition to ensuring compliance with global regulations, Parker Kittiwake’s condition monitoring systems are used to provide the earliest indication of failure, enabling operators to use predictive and proactive maintenance to minimise repair costs and extend the lifetime of vital equipment.

About Parker Kittiwake

Parker Kittiwake is a leading manufacturer of condition monitoring solutions for analysing fuel and oil, gas emissions, and acoustic emissions. Engineers rely on Parker Kittiwake products to gain vital insights into the health of engines and machinery, enabling rapid and informed decision-making on critical operational matters.

About Parker Hannifin

Parker Kittiwake is a Parker Hannifin company. With annual sales of approximately $13 billion in 2015 fiscal, Parker Hannifin is the world's leading diversified manufacturer of motion and control technologies and systems, providing precision-engineered solutions for a wide variety of mobile, industrial and aerospace markets.