Marine fuels: what is heavy fuel oil?
Fuel oils of viscosity similar to tar fall under the heading of "heavy fuel oil" (HFO). HFO also referred to as bunker fuel or residual fuel oil, is a by-product of the distillation and cracking of petroleum. Because HFO is polluted with a variety of substances, including aromatics, sulphur, and nitrogen, its combustion-related emissions are more polluting than those of other fuel oils. Due to its affordability when compared to more environmentally friendly fuel sources like distillates, HFO is primarily employed as a fuel source for marine vessel propulsion. The usage and transportation of HFO on board ships raise a number of environmental issues, including the possibility of an oil leak and the emission of hazardous substances and particles, such as black carbon. HFO is made up of leftovers or residue from petroleum sources after higher-quality hydrocarbons have been recovered using techniques like thermal and catalytic cracking. As a result, HFO is also sometimes call...