Operational problems in marine diesel engines switching on low sulfur fuels before entering emission controlled areas

Introduction of rules connected with implementation of Sulfur Emission Control Areas and changes in MARPOL Convention Annex VI not only increased the operation costs or forced ship owners to comply with convention but first of all put pressure and provided influence on ship’s operation. In this article there are presented operational problems in Marine Diesel Engines switching from the residual fuels HFO to low sulfur residual LSFO and distillate LSGO fuels before entering Emission Control Areas (ECAs). There are defined ECA Zones in Europe and North America. There are introduced changes in limits with regards to Sulfur content in fuel oils during last years, planed trends and changes. There are characterized the changing over process, the applied procedures and methods of time calculation in changing over from HFO into LSFO/ LSGO. Besides, there are described the method of sulfur calculation in fuel during blending both grades of fuel. To conclude authors have characterized technical and legislative demands that the ship-owners have to face up to adopt the operated vessels to meet ECAs requirements.