Fuel Lab On-Board

A fuel lab on-board is embedded instrumentation that analyzes bunker fuel quality and combustion behavior during service rather than relying only on shore laboratory tests of the bunker delivery note sample. Sensors track density, viscosity, water content, and combustion parameters to catch off-spec or commingled fuel, cat-fines, and ignition problems that damage engines. The reference assay still rests on ISO 8217 marine-fuel specifications tested ashore; an onboard system gives early warning between deliveries and supports blend-compatibility decisions as operators mix VLSFO grades to meet the MARPOL Annex VI 0.50% sulfur cap.