1. Presenter: Captain Charlie Tweedel Sabine Pilots Association
Low Sulphur Diesel Fuel Oil Requirements
The Pilot’s Perspective
North American Marine Environment Protection Association
“Focusing on Solutions”
Houston Pilots Conference Facility
23 February 2017
Presenter: Captain Charlie Tweedel Sabine Pilots Association

2. Introduction Regulation Shipboard Operations and Engineering
Navigational Issues in Pilotage Waters
Notices, Alerts, Bulletins
Pilot Anecdotal Input
Mitigating risks

3. Regulation
MARPOL Requirements for Emission Control Areas: 1 January 2015
Vessels entering ECA (within 200NM North American coast)
must burn fuel with less than 0.1% SULPHUR content
Fuel requirements mandate switching from residual Heavy Fuel Oils (HFO, aka “Bunker”)
to Distillate fuels (Marine Gas Oil, Marine Diesel Oil)
So many names and acronyms: HFO, MDO, LSDO, ULSDO,
MGO, MFO, DMA, DMB….
Bottom line is delineating between Residual Fuel and Distillate Fuel
For this presentation MDO refers to fuel in compliance with new sulphur regs
HFO refers to fuel not in compliance with ECA regs or burned outside of ECA

4. Shipboard Operations and Engineering
Challenges for Shipboard Personnel
HFO to MDO change over
Low Viscosity and Lubricity
Filter issues and leaks
Temperature and potential for thermal damage to components
Storage of two separate fuel types
Delivering power to the propeller…
RPM control with throttle management hardware/software
Less energy in the same volume of fuel…reduced BTUs with MDO
Net result for the pilot:
Potential change in maneuvering expectations

5. Navigational Issues in Pilotage Waters
Slow response of engine through range of maneuvering bell orders
Unavailability of certain bells…usually Full Maneuvering
Inability to achieve posted RPM on Pilot Card
No “kick” to the engine when increasing RPM
Adds to the existing issues of UKC/Engine Load
Delay (or no response) in starting or reversing engine
Engine Failure: Loss of Propulsion

6. Notices, Alerts, Bulletins….

7. Notices, Alerts, Bulletins….
Mariners’ Alerting and Reporting Scheme

8. Notices, Alerts, Bulletins….

9. Pilot anecdotal examples of dealing with MDO issues…
(Data from Houston Pilots)

10. Pilot Card showing difference in RPM burning MDO vs. HFO

11. Example of Computer Controlled Throttle
Ordered RPM 83
Actual RPM 70

12. Dealing with MDO going forward
Enhanced exchange of information
Master-Pilot Exchange
Including amending the Pilot Card
Pilot Association logging problem ships
Mitigating risks
Use of escort tugs
Movement restrictions/limitations
Final thoughts….
ww.sabinepilots.com

13. ?’s
Contributors:
Aransas-Corpus
Christi Pilots