MSC to trial emulsified synthetic HFO

Phase 1 of the trial will see the MSAR fuel used to power a large MAN ME and/or a Wärtsilä/WinGD Flex 2-stroke engine, to obtain ‘letter of no objection’ from the respective engine manufacturers.

This will in turn allow further use of the fuel in vessels in MSC’s global fleet in Phase 2 – subject to further commercial agreements between the parties.

Quadrise chief executive Jason Miles said "Quadrise is delighted to have signed this agreement with MSC and we look forward to working alongside them to progress this excellent opportunity. We believe MSC’s large modern fleet installed with electronic engines and, in some cases, exhaust gas cleaning systems (scrubbers) is well positioned to realise the economic and environmental benefits of MSAR and bioMSAR and we look forward to realising the project and getting the trials underway in 2021."

MSC Shipmanagement’s group managing director and chief executive Prabhat Jha said "MSC is looking forward to working with the Quadrise team under the joint development agreement in 2021 to scope out the operational trials of MSAR on our container vessels. We are particularly interested in the potential environmental benefits of MSAR and bioMSAR that, alongside the economic benefits, reflect our approach to operating a modern MSC fleet, and fit well with our overall future fuels strategy."

Quadrise’s MSAR fuel is a low viscosity oil-in-water emulsified synthetic HFO manufactured using proprietary technology to mix heavy residual fuels with small amounts of specialist chemicals and water to a bespoke formulation.
The resulting emulsion contains approximately 30% water and less than 1% chemicals and is a low viscosity liquid at room temperature making it easier to handle and reducing the heating costs for storing, transportation and use in comparison to HFOs.

The trial will commence in 2021 with a commercial rollout across the MSC global fleet if successful.