A low-cost alternative to heavy fuel oil (HFO) being trialed in collaboration with Denmark’s Maersk Line looks to have suffered a setback.

Earlier this month Quadrise Fuels International (QFI), the makers of the MSAR fuel, said the trial vessel had to undergo an unscheduled dry docking.

The vessel, believed to be the Seago Istanbul (built 2007), is thought to have been in a collision with navigational buoys.

The Danish-flagged containership had been receiving the MSAR fuel from a dedicated bunker barge in the Bay of Algeciras.

“Following an operational redeployment of the vessel upon completion of the dry-docking the vessel will not be able to bunker at Algeciras,” said QFI.

“As a result, the MSAR trial will be suspended once the remaining MSAR fuel on the test vessel has been consumed. 

“Maersk is currently considering alternative test vessels within its fleet for a continuation of the MSAR trial programme - though it is unlikely that the trial will be resumed before the end of 2017.”

However, Maersk did say that the trial had “been successful to date” and that Wartsila will carry out a detailed inspection of the test vessel’s engine during the next few months to verify and document the performance of the test vessel while operating on MSAR fuel.

QFI added that Maersk has confirmed that it wants to continue to work with the company to explore the commercial options for marine MSAR.

“We are clearly disappointed that Maersk will have to suspend the trial for operational reasons that are unrelated to the MSAR operational trial,” said QFI chairman Mike Kirk.

“However, we are pleased that Maersk has reconfirmed that the trial to date has been successful and that an interim inspection will be completed in the spring, as originally scheduled.”

Niels H Bruus, Head of Future Solutions of Maersk Line, commented: “During the MSAR trial program Maersk has enjoyed a close and professional collaboration with both our technology partner QFI, and supply partner CEPSA, resulting in a smooth operation during which the fuel has performed well.

“We look forward to continuing our collaborations and will work with QFI to consider the commercial opportunities of MSAR while we review options for continuing trials aboard other vessels.”