VISWA LAB Tel: USA (713) 842-1985

Fax: USA (713) 842-1981

12140 Almeda Road, Email: customerhelp@viswalab.com
Houston, Texas 77045, USA Web: http://www.viswalab.com

PROBLEM INVESTIGATION REPORT

Details of Samples:
Date : 01-OCTOBER-2016
Customer : Sunbright Shipping Ltd .S.A
Ship : PROPEL PROGRESS
IMO No : 9152234
Bunker Port : KHOR FAKKAN-UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Bunker Date : 23-JULY-2016
Sample Grade : RMG 380
Viswa Lab Log # : S160963565
Seal # : V245499
Sample Source : SERVICE TANK

Problem Reported: Vessel PROPEL PROGRESS reported of main engine piston

pisto ring breakage on 5 units,
purifier sludging, high exhaust temperature , and filter choking with fuel supplied in Khor Fakkan, 23rd
July.

Summary of Findings:

1. Based on the results of 5 tests carried out, the calculated PFIN result of 224 is higher than the
level at which piston ring breakages have been reported in 85 to 90% cases. When PFIN value is
greater than 130, the fuel carries a high probability of piston ring breakage.

2. The reserve stability of this fuel is very poor and this could be the reason the asphaltene to come
out as sludge and cause such issues. It may be beneficial to dose sludge conditioner type additive
like (BT 25 from Innospec, Fuel Care from Unitor etc) and treat the fuel extensively in the
purification plant.

Actions for Mitigation

a. Examples of additives that can reduce the PFIN number additives are Innospec Octamar BT 25,
Aderco 2055,Wilhelmsen Fuel Care.
b. Blending this fuel with another heavy fuel with lower PFIN (after checking compatibility).

In order to see if additives help decrease high PFIN, we have added innospec BT-25 to the fuel at
1:10,000 ratio (additive:fuel). The lab tested result suggest that Reserve Stability Number
improved from 11.5 to 0.1 thereby decreasing the PFIN from 224 to 92.

3. Reserve stability number result of 11.5 is very high. ASTM D 7061 says if the separability number
is above 10, the stability reserve of the oil is very low and asphaltenes will easily flocculate, or
have already started to flocculate.

4. Xylene Equivalent Test result of 45 is high. According to Diesel United-Sulzer engine Makers
technical document, if the Xylene Equivalent result is high, there is a real risk of fuel pump
’”‘„Ž‡•Ǥ•’‡”–Š‡Žƒ••†‘…—‡–Dz
—‹†ƒ…‡ˆ‘”‡ƒ•—”‡•–‘‘’‡™‹–Š‡‰”ƒ†‡†ƒ”‹ne
‡ƒ˜› —‡Ž•‡”•‹‘dzǡDzŠ‡–Š‡š›Ž‡‡‡“—‹˜ƒŽ‡–„‡…‘‡•‰”‡ƒ–‡”–Šƒ͵Ͳǡ’”‘„Ž‡•ƒ”‡
Ž‹‡Ž›–‘‘……—”Ǥdz

Please note that these observations are made on the basis of a limited sample sent to us, on the basis that the sampling has
been done correctly and our carrying out various tests using this sample in the lab
Page | 1 of 2
 VISWA LAB Tel: USA (713) 842-1985
Fax: USA (713) 842-1981
12140 Almeda Road, Email: customerhelp@viswalab.com
Houston, Texas 77045, USA Web: http://www.viswalab.com

5. The asphaltene content is very high at 11 %. There is no limit for asphaltenes in ISO 8217. The
asphaltene content in regular fuels is normally 4-6%. Japanese owners are very particular that
fuels do not have asphaltenes greater than 7.5%. Japanese Class NK lists the engine maker
recommended limits for asphaltene to be 8%. Most 2-stroke engines will tolerate a lot of
asphaltenes in the fuel. After a certain stage, there will be delayed ignition, after burning, smoky
exhaust, sometimes increased exhaust temperature etc. There could be a reduction in power as
well.

6. GCMS screening did not indicate significant levels of the contaminants listed in the report.

SUMMARY ADDITIONAL OF TEST RESULTS

NORMAL RANGE*
S.NO. TEST RESULTS REMARKS ON SPEC?**
(SPEC LIMIT**)
PFIN PARAMETERS
MICRO CARBON RESIDUE
1 14.5 <15 (18) NORMAL YES
(%wt)
2 CCAI 851 < 848 (870) HIGH NOT SPECIFIED
3 ASPHALTENES (% wt) 10.9 < 6% HIGH NOT SPECIFIED
LOW
RESERVE STABILITY
4 11.5 <5 RESERVE NOT SPECIFIED
NUMBER
STABILITY
5 XYLENE EQUIVALENCE 45.45 < 30% HIGH NOT SPECIFIED
6 PFIN 224 < 130 HIGH NOT SPECIFIED
ABRASIVE PARTICLES
7 CATFINES 36 < 40 (MAX 80**) NORMAL YES**
8 PARTICLE COUNT 22/19/14 22/17/12 HIGH NOT SPECIFIED
CHEMICAL NATURE OF FUEL
GCMS SCREENING CHEMICAL CONTAMINANTS-
9 NORMAL NOT SPECIFIED
(QUALITATIVE) ABSENT
10 pH 8.78 Around 7.5 ALKALINE NOT SPECIFIED
11 STABILITY NO. 1 1,2 STABLE YES
12 TOLUENE INSOLUBLES 1.1 mg /70.0g -- NORMAL NOT SPECIFIED

* Based on empirical data

** Specification according to table 2 of ISO 8217 Ȃ 2005
+ Specification according to table 2 of ISO 8217 Ȃ 2010
--- No Specification

Please note that these observations are made on the basis of a limited sample sent to us, on the basis that the sampling has
been done correctly and our carrying out various tests using this sample in the lab
Page | 2 of 2
 GCMS Screening Report

REPORT NO S160963565 REPORT DATE 03-Oct-2016

IMO NUMBER 9152234 CUSTOMER Sunbright Shipping Ltd
.S.A
VESSEL PROPEL PROGRESS ATTN Technical Department

SHIP AND SAMPLE INFORMATION

Grade IFO380-RMG380
Bunkered Port KHOR FAKKAN-UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Bunkered Date 23-Jul-2016
Supplier OIL MARKETING & TRADING
Barge ALAMBRA
Quantity (MT) 400.00
Sample From OTHER

TEST NAME : GCMS Screening

S No Compound Observation Levels

*
1 1,2-Dichloroethane Absent BD
*
2 1-Butanol Absent BD
*
3 Tetrachloroethylene Absent BD
*
4 Styrene Absent BD
*
5 Alpha-pinene Absent BD
*
6 Phenol Absent BD
*
7 DCPD Absent BD
*
8 Indene Absent BD
9 Naphthalene Present PRESENT

BD*=Below detection limit

COMMENTS:
Screening is carried out using full-fledged GCMS of vapour's collected in headspace after heating the fuel to
110 °C.
The fuel sample S160963565 was tested for GCMS Screening. The Test Results is: NORMAL

COMMENTS & SUGGESTIONS:

GCMS analysis did not indicate significant levels of the contaminants listed in the report.
GCMS Screening will not capture FAME's present in the fuel. If FAME contamination is suspected, we can identify and quantify this through other

tests. Please note that these observations are made on the basis of a limited sample sent to us, on the basis that the sampling has been done

correctly and our carrying out various tests using this sample in the lab.The results listed are only for contaminants listed above. Any additional
contaminants present can be identified by carrying out a comprehensive GCMS (CRA) test.

VISWA LAB HOUSTON: 12140 Almeda Road, Houston, TX 77045 Tel 1-(713)-842-1985 Fax 1-(713)-842-1981 Page 1 of 1