A long-awaited document from the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) aims to end uncertainty regarding specifications for new IMO 2020-compliant low sulphur fuel.

The ISO has published its 23263:2019 Publicly Available Specification (PAS) on its website after working with shipowners, class societies, fuel testers, supplier and traders, among others.

Shipping players had previously expected the PAS to be ready in August.

The document addresses quality considerations that apply to marine fuels in view of the implementation of maximum 0.5% bunkers from 1 January and the range of marine fuels that will be placed on the market in response, ISO said.

It defines general requirements that apply to all 0.5% fuels and confirms the applicability of its previous document, ISO 8217, for those fuels.

Technical considerations which might apply to particular fuels include kinematic viscosity, cold flow properties, stability, ignition characteristics and catalyst fines.