Safety investigators are currently looking into the possibility of contaminated fuel playing a role in the recent Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore, Maryland. The incident involved a cargo ship losing power and colliding with the bridge.
According to Andrew Lipow, president of Lipow Oil Associates, LLC, vessels typically use two types of fuel: Marine Distillate Fuels (Marine Gas Oil) for diesel engines and Marine Residual Fuels for main engines. Lipow explained that 'dirty fuel' can result from contamination with water or sediment during the refining process or from catalysts used in refining.
Lipow highlighted that sediment accumulation in the distribution system, tank bottoms, or barges could lead to fuel contamination. He emphasized that the industry has quality specifications to address sediment content issues.
If the cargo ship's power outage was caused by dirty fuel, Lipow suggested that dirty residual fuel would be the likely culprit. Residual fuel oil, derived from the heaviest part of crude oil, can contain catalyst particulates that may lead to engine issues.
He further explained that heavy oil streams blended into residual fuel could potentially form solids that clog fuel injectors, resulting in power loss. Lipow underscored that the heavy nature of residual fuels increases the likelihood of fuel contamination.
In conclusion, Lipow pointed out that sediment accumulation in fuel distribution systems could introduce contaminants into vessels, emphasizing the importance of maintaining fuel quality standards to prevent such incidents.
