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Explore the different types of marine fuel.
Whether you have a single sea vessel or manage an entire fleet, understanding the different types of marine fuel is crucial. It affects your bottom line, your vessel’s performance and your business’s environmental impact.
At Tasha Fuel & Propane, we proudly deliver premium marine fuel to marinas and vessels in Bourne and throughout the Upper Cape. In this article, we’ll discuss the different kinds of fuel for personal and commercial sea vessels. By the end of this read, you’ll be well-equipped to make informed decisions about marine fuel for your business.
The Different Kinds of Marine Fuel Oil
While some vessels run on liquified natural gas, and many small boats use E10 or gasoline, the vast majority of commercial vessels use fuel oil. Here are some of the options that marine customers in our region use:
- High-Sulfur Fuel Oil (HSFO) — Often referred to as bunker fuel, HSFO has been the traditional choice for many larger marine vessels. It’s generally the most inexpensive marine fuel option for commercial ships. However, you need to be certain that you are permitted to use it. (The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection permits some usage of higher sulfur marine fuels.)
- Very Low-Sulfur Fuel Oil (VLSFO) — Regulations that went into place in 2020 cap the sulfur content of this fuel to 0.5 percent. This product offers a middle ground between cost and compliance if HSFO is not an option.
- Ultra-Low-Sulfur Fuel Oil (ULSFO) — Comparable to the diesel fuel that powers road vehicles, generators and other equipment on land, ULSFO contains a miniscule amount of sulfur. This lowers emissions of sulfur oxides, which contribute to acid rain and various respiratory illnesses. Minimizing the sulfur content of your fuel oil can also lead to cleaner engine operations. For businesses focused on long-term sustainability, ULSFO is an excellent choice.
Biofuel-Blended Fuel Oil
If you are looking to significantly lower the carbon footprint of your seaborne fleet, you can consider biofuel-blended fuel oil, a revolutionary option in the marine fuel industry. Like the Bioheat® heat fuel that Tasha delivers to oil-heated homes throughout the Cape and Southeastern Massachusetts, these fuels blend traditional petroleum fuel oil with renewable biofuel derived from plant oils, used cooking grease, animal fats and other organic feedstocks.
The resulting fuel has a much lower emissions impact.