AmericasBunkeringOperations

Eleven ships break down in wake of latest Houston bunker contamination case

Photo of Sam Chambers Sam ChambersJuly 11, 2023
7,094 Less than a minute
Port of Houston

Houston has another bunkering problem. Fuel checker VPS is reporting a bunker contamination case at the Texan port, the largest bunkering hub in the Americas.

VPS detected the presence of dicyclopentadiene (DCPD) and associated isomers at significantly high levels in VLSFO bunker fuel deliveries in Houston from a single supplier for three months from March to May this year.

DCPDs are unsaturated chemical compounds which can make bunker fuel more sticky and viscous. Thus far, 11 vessels have lost power and propulsion from the off-spec fuel.

Multiple, multi-million dollar court cases were launched from the last big bunker contamination case in Houston three years ago.

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Photo of Sam Chambers Sam ChambersJuly 11, 2023
7,094 Less than a minute
Photo of Sam Chambers

Sam Chambers

Starting out with the Informa Group in 2000 in Hong Kong, Sam Chambers became editor of Maritime Asia magazine as well as East Asia Editor for the world’s oldest newspaper, Lloyd’s List. In 2005 he pursued a freelance career and wrote for a variety of titles including taking on the role of Asia Editor at Seatrade magazine and China correspondent for Supply Chain Asia. His work has also appeared in The Economist, The New York Times, The Sunday Times and The International Herald Tribune.
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