b'Another opportunity, this one a bit moreAs always, there are also potential snafus surprising, is that the United States is im- associated with the introduction of a new porting record volumes of heavy fuel oil. Asregulatory scheme. LuminUltra, a microbial pricesofhigh-sulfurfuelssinkglobally monitoringspecialist,hasexpressedcon-at $41.56 per barrel on November 6, theycerns that reducing sulfur content can result reachedathree-yearlowithasbecomein increased microbial influenced corrosion economicalforU.S.concernstoimporton vessels. In other words, as Patrick Taylor, heavy fuel oil from Russia and former SovietLuminUltras director of global business de-Union countries, and those reached a multi- velopment, put it, Less sulfur means more year high of 1.35 million tons in October.bugs.U.S. ports also received fuel oil from Jordan at the end of October, with another tankerIMO 2020 Enforcement an set to arrive around the end of November.IssueWhy the interest in fuel oil that will soonEnforcement of the new rule is also a po-become obsolete? U.S. refiners have greatertentialweakspotwithreportsindicating capability than others around the world tothat some countries might not fully imple-break down cheaper, heavy fuels into high- ment IMO 2020. The enforcement regime er-margin,compliantproducts.Theirvac- is something that is still evolving, said Sam uumdistillationcapacitycanbreakdownRuda, port director at the Port Authority of heavy fuel oil and their coking capacity canNew York and New Jersey.upgradecrackedfueloil.Industryexperts saythattheincreasedimportsareasignThe World Shipping Council (WSC) says that U.S. refiners are taking delivery of thetheremustbealevelplayingfieldifthe heavy fuel oil, as its price declines ahead ofregulation is going to work. We urge any the IMO 2020 implementation, in order tocountryconsideringdeviationtoabandon upgrade it. those ideas, said John Butler, the WSC CEO.2019 Collection Shipping Regulations 33'