International Standard ISO 8217: 1996 / British Standard BS MA 100: 1996 - Residual Fuels

International Standard ISO 8217: 1996

Petroleum products - Fuels (Class F) - Specifications of Marine Fuels
Requirements for Marine Residual Fuels

British Standard BS MA 100: 1996

British Standard Marine Series: Specification for petroleum fuels for
marine oil engines and boilers

Characteristics	Test Method	Limit	ISO- F-	ISO- F-	ISO- F-	ISO- F-	ISO- F-	ISO- F-	ISO- F-	ISO- F-	ISO- F-	ISO- F-	ISO- F-	ISO- F-	ISO- F-	ISO- F-	ISO- F-
Grade			RMA 10	RMB 10	RMC 10	RMD 15	RME 25	RMF 25	RMG 35	RMH 35	RMK 35	RMH 45	RMK 45	RML 45	RMH 55	RMK 55	RML 55
Density at 15�C, kg/m3	ISO 3675 or ISO 12185	max.	975	981	981	985	991	991	991	991	1010	991	1010	-	991	1010	-
Kinematic Viscosity at 100�C mm2/s (1)	ISO 3104	max.	10.0	10.0	10.0	15.0	25.0	25.0	35.0	35.0	35.0	45.0	45.0	45.0	55.0	55.0	55.0
Flash point �C	ISO 2719	min.	60	60	60	60	60	60	60	60	60	60	60	60	60	60	60
Pour Point (upper), �C (2) Winter Quality Summer Quality	ISO 3016	max. max.	0 6	24 24	24 24	30 30	30 30	30 30	30 30	30 30	30 30	30 30	30 30	30 30	30 30	30 30	30 30
Carbon Residue, % (m/m)	ISO 10370	max.	10	10	14	14	15	20	18	22	22	22	22	-	22	22	-
Ash, % (m/m)	ISO 6245	max.	0.10	0.10	0.10	0.10	0.10	0.15	0.15	0.20	0.20	0.20	0.20	0.20	0.20	0.20	0.20
Water, % (v/v)	ISO 3733	max.	0.50	0.50	0.50	0.8	1.0	1.0	1.0	1.0	1..0	1.0	1.0	1.0	1.0	1.0	1.0
Sulphur, % (m/m)	ISO 8754	max.	3.5	3.5	3.5	4.0	5.0	5.0	5.0	5.0	5.0	5.0	5.0	5.0	5.0	5.0	5.0
Vanadium, mg/kg	ISO 14597	max.	150	150	300	350	200	500	300	600	600	600	600	600	600	600	600
Aluminium plus Silicon, mg/kg	ISO 10478	max	80	80	80	80	80	80	80	80	80	80	80	80	80	80	80
Total Sediment, Potential, % (m/m)	ISO 10307-2	max	0.10	0.10	0.10	0.10	0.10	0.10	0.10	0.10	0.10	0.10	0.10	0.10	0.10	0.10	0.10

(1) 1 mm2/s= 1 cSt. For the viscosity of fuel at different temperatures, please see the Viscosity Conversion table later in this publication.

(2) Purchasers should ensure that this pour point is suitable for the equipment on board,
especially if the vessel is operating in both Northern and Southern Hemispheres

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International Standard ISO 8217: 1996 / British Standard BS MA 100: 1996 - Residual Fuels

MDO ISO 8217

COMMERCIAL MARINE GAS OIL, DIESEL FUEL #2 (DF2),Plaza Marine bunker marine terminal fuel services INTERMEDIATE FUEL OIL 180 &Plaza Marine bunker marine terminal fuel services INTERMEDIATE FUEL OIL 380

A brief description of the ISO 8217 specification

The ISO 8217 specification is prepared in co-operation with the marine and petroleum industries to meet the requirements for marine fuels supplied on a worldwide basis for consumption on board ships.

ISO 8217 recognizes that crude oil supplies, refining methods, ships' machinery and local conditions vary considerably, which factors have led historically to a large number of categories of residual fuels being available internationally, even though locally or nationally there may be relatively few categories.

Several of the residual fuels are unique in origin to one country or area, but are nevertheless included in the ISO Specification because of their importance in the international marine fuel market.

The original ISO 8217 specification was issued in 1987.

ISO 8217 : 1996 is the second issue of this standard, it supersedes the 1987 specification which is now obsolete, and reflects several important changes in methodology. The number of fuel categories remains the same, the one deletion being counterbalanced by one addition.

Because the principal aim of this report is to examine and review fuel oils for ships, it is appropriate to define what is understood by fuel oil and gas oil in the light of the EU Directive. The Directive uses the following definitions:

1. Fuel Oil

Any petroleum-based liquid fuel falling under CN codes 2710 00 71 to 2710 00 78 (these are the numbers in the Common Customs Tariff) or which (except for gas oil as defined in 2. below), by reason of its distillation limits, falls within the category of heavy oils intended for use as fuel and of which less than 65% by volume (including losses) distils at 250⁰C according to the ASTM D86 method. If the distillation cannot be determined by means of the ASTM D86 method, the oil product is classified as fuel oil.

2. Gas Oil

Any petroleum-based liquid fuel falling under CN code 2710 00 69 or which, by reason of its distillation limits, falls within the category of middle distillates intended for use as fuel and of which at least 85% by volume (including losses) distils at 350⁰C according to the ASTM D86 method. Diesel oil as defined in Article 2 (2) of European Parliament and Council Directive on the quality of petrol and diesel oil is not covered by this definition.

Definitions of fuel oils within the shipping industry

Over the years many different definitions of fuel oil have been used in the shipping industry, and even today there is a number of different standards according to which ship owners order fuel.

Some years ago, fuel was ordered by defining it as:

gas oil,
diesel oil,
light fuel oil, and
heavy fuel oil,

stating the desired viscosity in sec. Redwood I at 100⁰F and the approximate specific density at 15⁰C.

But in consequence of the technical development at the oil refineries, where cracking methods for the crude oil were improved and more products could be extracted, and in line with the enhanced environmental awareness on land � but not on board ships � this development also caused the quality of fuel for ships to deteriorate, because no environmental demands were made on the shipping industry in those days. Engine designers therefore had to start thinking in other terms and designing engines capable of using the poorer fuel oils � a development which is still in progress. At the same time, ship owners were forced to make more stringent demands as to the bunker oil they ordered, and in 1982 the first standard (which also comprised the so-called heavy oils) was introduced. It was designated BS MA 100, and it subdivides fuel oils into twelve groups, each group containing threshold values for the properties of the oil.

The main groupings in BS (British Standard) MA 100 are:

M1: Marine gas oil
M2: Marine diesel oil
M3: Distillate mixed with some residual oil
M4 � M9: Heavy oils with increasing viscosity and an upper specific density limit
M10�M12: Corresponding to M7 - M9, but without specific density limit

It is important to note that the groups refer to the viscosity of the oil. It should also be noted that this standard has several limitations. Thus, it provides no information regarding important heavy-oil properties such as:

mixability
ignition characteristics
contents of solid particles or contaminants

This BS MA 100 standard is still used by many ship owners when they order bunkers around the world, but it is probably losing popularity in favor of the ISO 8217 standard, which is likely to be the predominant standard today. CIMAC�s fuel oil recommendations are also used quite a lot. ISO 8217 and CIMAC�s definitions are often seen integrated into the same table or standard. (CIMAC means CONSEIL INTERNATIONAL DES MACHINES A COMBUSTION and safeguards the interests of engine manufacturers and users).

The classification of fuel oils according to ISO 8217 and CIMAC standards is listed in the following table:

a) Distillate grades

ISO 8217:
CIMAC:

DMX
DX

A fuel suitable for use when the ambient temperature is as low as 15⁰C. - without preheating the oil. In the merchant marine its use is limited to lifeboat motors and emergency generators because of the oil�s reduced flash point.

ISO 8217:
CIMAC:

DMA
DA

A distillate of high quality, generally referred to as MGO (Marine Gas Oil).

ISO 8217:
CIMAC:

DMB
DB

An ordinary fuel that may contain traces of residual oil; intended for use in diesel engines which are not designed for combustion of residual oil. Generally referred to as MDO (Marine Diesel Oil).

ISO 8217:
CIMAC:

DMC
DC

A fuel that may contain substantial traces of residual oil. Therefore, this oil is not suitable for machinery and oil treatment plants that are not designed for residual fuel.

As is evident from the above table of distillate grades, ISO 8217 and CIMAC describe four categories of distillate fuel. Furthermore, the standard indicates the minimum and maximum values for the following:

Characteristic

Limit

Density at 15⁰C kg/m³

max.

Viscosity at 40⁰C, mm²/s

min.
max.

Flash point, deg.C

min.

Pour point (upper), deg.C
- winter quality
- summer quality

max.

Cloud point, deg.C

max.

Sulphur, % (mm/mm)

max.

Cetane number

min.

Carbon residue (micro method), 10% res. % m/m
Carbon residue (micro method), % (mm/mm)

max.
max.

Ash, % (m/m)

max.

Sediment, % (m/m)

max

Total existent sediment, % (m/m)

max.

Water, % (v/v)

max.

Vanadium, mg/kg

max.

Aluminium plus silicon, mg/kg

max.

b) Residual Grades

ISO 8217:
CIMAC:

RMA 10
A 10

Please refer to the below remarks under A10 og B10

ISO 8217:
CIMAC:

RMB 10
B 10

Please refer to the below remarks under A10 og B10

ISO 8217:
CIMAC:

RMC 10
C 10