Pratik Bijlani – On August 31, the Institute of Marine Engineers (India), Mumbai section, held a technical conference at The Kohinoor Continental Hotel titled The Role of Additives: To Minimise the Environmental Impact of Transport Goods by Sea. This event addressed a major issue for the maritime industry, bringing together industry leaders, maritime professionals, and environmental advocates to discuss new approaches to decrease marine transport’s ecological footprint. With an increasing global emphasis on decarbonisation, the seminar was timely, providing useful insights into the function of gasoline additives in attaining environmental sustainability in maritime shipping.
The event was attended by industry stalwarts such as Capt M.P. Bhasin, Chairman, CMMI; Mr. Sanjeev Mehra, MD, Kenmark Tech Solutions; Mr. Sunil Kumar, Hon. Gen. Secretary, IMEI; Mr. David Birwadkar, Chairman, IMEI (Mumbai Branch); and other dignitaries.
Mr Shobhit Kapoor opened the session by highlighting the serious difficulties facing the maritime sector. He emphasised the widespread problems with fuel pumps, filtration systems, and purifiers that have affected ships around the world. “We just discovered that approximately 150 ships reported issues with gasoline pumps, filtration systems, purifiers, and other fuel-related equipment. And this problem was noted globally and for a variety of reasons,” Mr Kapoor added, emphasising the need for solutions to these serious issues. This introduction laid the groundwork for a detailed explanation of how gasoline additives can help to reduce such issues.
In his welcoming remarks, Mr Birwadkar lauded Ms Ritu Chaudhri, Director of Enmarol Petroleum India Private Limited, and the impact of her company’s products on the maritime industry. “Rest assured that in today’s days of decarbonisation and environmental consciousness, this product is one good product that is being successfully used by ship owners and ship managers to effectively combat emissions and control them to the point where we can say that it is safe for humankind,” he said, recognising the effectiveness of these solutions in reducing emissions.
Ms Chaudhri, an MBA graduate from the University of Connecticut and a well-known figure in the marine fuel industry, delivered the event’s keynote address. She founded Enmarol Petroleum in 1996 and has been a major player in the sale of marine fuel additives in India. Her lecture focused on the critical function of additives in improving fuel performance and lowering emissions, emphasising their ability to dramatically reduce the environmental effect of maritime operations.
She discussed maritime fuel additives, showing how they can increase onboard fuel efficiency and stabilise fuel, particularly Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (VLSFO), which is commonly utilised in the sector. She focused on her company’s goods, specifically the Octamar™ marine fuel treatment chemicals. She explained that these additives are intended to stabilise VLSFO and control fuel ageing, assisting ship operators in overcoming obstacles such as asphaltene instability and sludge development.
Ms Chaudhri’s extensive presentation also addressed the environmental impact of biofuels, particularly those containing Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME). She addressed the performance challenges associated with such biofuels and proposed options for improving fuel management. Through case studies and testing, she proved the real benefits of employing additives like as Octamar Ultra HF and Octamar Complete, which can possibly cut fuel usage by 2-3%, providing both economic and environmental benefits.
Mr Rajesh Kasargod, Hon. Treasurer, offered a vote of thanks, thanking all of the guests and participants for making the event memorable and successful. The evening concluded with a cocktail reception, which allowed attendees to network and reflect on the informative talks.
This event highlighted the growing relevance of gasoline additives in promoting maritime sustainability, with technologies such as Octamar paving the way for a cleaner, more efficient future in marine transportation.
Marex Media