NYK and Nippon Yuka Kogyo Co. Ltd. (head office: Yokohama; president: Kazutoshi Kamata), an NYK Group company, have jointly developed an innovative fuel additive, "Wax Breaker," which is added to MGO and MDO* to prevent coagulation at low temperature.
Marine fuel oil contains a lot of waxes** that can possibly coagulate when the ship enters cold areas. The waxes can solidify as the temperature of the fuel oil tank drops, and engine troubles can then result.
The new agent, ???Wax Breaker," can get between the molecules of paraffin crystals that cause coagulation, prevent them from growing larger, and thus prevent coagulation. This can improve the fluidity of fuel at low temperature and prevent potential accidents.
The NYK Group will continue to promote new technologies for safe shipping.
* MGO and MDO
MGO (Marine Gas Oil) and MDO (Marine Diesel Oil) are standard marine fuel oils that are similar to light oil and A heavy oil, and have a much lower viscosity than C heavy oil. In recent years, many waxes have been confirmed to be in some oils.
** Waxes
Oil and fat substances that solidify when cooled, like candle wax. Wax components can be found in crude oil.