Norbulk puts cat fines testing onboard

The contract was awarded following an evaluation of all market options which could meet Norbulk’s requirement for a simple solution that any of its crew members could use to get an accurate and repeatable result, quickly.

Walter Woodage, director and general manager of Norbulk Shipping, said: “Proactive condition monitoring is an integral part of maximising our operational efficiency.”

He added: “With changes in fuel quality, catalytic fines have become a real problem in recent times, which is why the advent of onboard testing is so welcome.”

The Parker Kittiwake Cat Fines Test Kit uses a simple pre-mixed chemical bottle test, which detects the presence of cat fines in a representative sample of fuel oil.

Through this, operators are able to identify the presence of abrasive and potentially damaging components in the fuel oil before it enters the system.

Mr Woodage continued: “Having evaluated the available tools, we have identified the Parker Kittiwake Cat Fines Test Kit as the simplest and reliable way for our engineers to quickly identify potentially damaging cat fines in fuel oil.”

“They can now take timely action to minimise the likelihood of damage, avoiding the associated costs and challenges if damage occurs.”

The test kits were launched in October 2015 and can be used in conjunction with both laboratory testing and a range of other onboard condition monitoring tools.

This aims to ensure that operators have reliable and accurate data readily to safeguard critical machinery against damage.

Larry Rumbol, condition monitoring market development manager, Parker Kittiwake explained: “As environmental regulation becomes more widespread, the quality of fuel supplied to a vessel is increasingly difficult to predict.”

He continued: As more distillates are being taken from the oil, this requires more refining, and as a result more catalyst is being carried over.”

“Until now, the detection of cat fines in fuel oil was only possible by obtaining a fuel sample, which is then sent for laboratory analysis.”

The replacement of one liner can cost up to US$65,000 for parts alone, and can run into hundreds of thousands for a single vessel with multiple cylinders, including materials, labour and the associated costs of downtime and repair.

Approximately 70 vessels will be equipped with the Parker Kittiwake Cat Fines Testing Kit to help prevent damage to fuel pumps, injectors, piston rings and liners.