Argus Marpol Strategy Summit

A deep dive into the options for refiners and traders in the light of the upcoming IMO sulfur regulation deadline.

• What are the opportunities for refiners and how will blending options change?
• How flexible are refiners to switch crudes and how will these restrictions impact blending as we approach  and pass 2020?
• The impact on light and heavy spreads for both crude and products
• Explore the various compliance options for refiners and traders
• Analyze the opportunities refiners have within blending
• Assess how light/heavy spreads are widening and who will take the high sulfur resid that they cannot convert

 

Speakers:

Stephen Jones, Senior VP, Petroleum Business Development, Argus

Ed Arnold, Senior Consultant, Argus

Beginning January 1, 2020, Marpol Annex V will come into play limiting the sulfur content in the bunker fuels mix leading to reduced emissions generated by the global shipping industry. As 2020 nears, gain a better understanding of the regulation including specification details, definition and the IMO’s enforcement plans. Understand the specifications changes for bunker fuels blending, your compliance options, and the IMO’s timeline for the program.

 

Speaker:

Jan Hagen Andersen, Business Development Director, DNV-GL

 

Compliant fuels – VLSFO and MGO

• What proportion of compliance will be met by higher utilization of VLSFO and MGO?
• Will there be enough compliant fuel to support future demand?
• How will global refineries adjust, and how will this change trade flows?

LNG demand, availability and utilization rates

• Is LNG the long-term fuels solution for the bunker industry?
• Will the global LNG infrastructure be in place to support wide-spread use?
• Will we see current ships retrofitted to support LNG as a fuel?
• Will the economics make sense for new build ships to run off LNG?

Methanol as an emerging marine fuel

• How is methanol emerging as an alternative solution?
• Can methanol provide a “future proof” alternative marine fuel since it can be produced from a range of renewable feedstocks?
• What is the status of the Methanol Institute’s efforts to demonstrate pilot vessels, implement safe handling best practices, and develop international standards?

IMO enactment and enforcement in the US

• What are the applicable US laws and regulations for implementing Marpol?
• What are the US Coast Guard Port State Control inspections and Marpol examination procedures?
• What are some critical tips for shipboard records and logs to ensure compliance in the US?
• What are the civil penalties and criminal fines for violations of Marpol and the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships?

 

Speakers:
Tony Odak, CEO, John W. Stone Oil Distributor
James Wait, CEO, REV LNG Marine LLC
Gregory Dolan, CEO, Methanol Institute
Briton Sparkman, Attorney, Chalos & Co, P.C. International Law Firm

 

 

• How are refiners preparing for the shift in sulfur standards and where are the various opportunities and challenges?
• How will simple refineries upgrade or reconfigure their operations to meet the changing fuel demand?
• What opportunities exist for high-conversion refineries and how will they ensure there is enough compliant fuel available to meet new demand?
• What does this mean for future refining margins, crude economics and heavy vs. light crude demand?
• How will refiners handle excess HSFO?

 

Speakers:

Stephen Broadbent, VGO and Resid Trader, Flint Hills Resources

Joseph Israel, President, Par Petroleum

Ed Arnold, Senior Consultant, Argus

• What are the current HSFO trade flows and how much decrease in demand will we see beginning in 2020?
• What changes might we see in supply and demand of VSFO and MGO?  Are the major global bunker hubs prepared to support the trade flow changes?
• What does the future look like for VLSFO, MGO and HSFU pricing?

 

Speakers:

Zach Stansbury, Senior Trader, GCC Bunkers

Stefka Wechsler, Marine Fuel Editor and Pricing Analyst, Argus

• How many ship owners are projected to utilize scrubbers as their compliance method?
• What are the benefits, pitfalls and economics of scrubbers and is this a sustainable option?
• Will fuel price spread continue to incentivize scrubbers as a long-term investment?

Speakers:

John Hatley, Americas VP Marine Solutions & Director Market Shaping, Wartsila

Ian Adams, Executive Director, Clean Shipping Alliance 2020

• How might fuel quality and specification testing change to meet new compliance standards?
• What are the testing procedures and what specifications should you look for when evaluating fuel?
• How do you avoid fuel contamination and compatibility issues?

Speakers:

Michael McNamara, Managing Director, Veritas Petroleum Services

Ananth Srinivasan, Vice President, V TIC Services

• What can we expect in the first year of compliance?
• How might shipping rates and barge availability change within the next 12 months?
• What are the long-term strategies of the shipping community?
• What enforcement issues might the market face?
• Will bunker fuel supply be able to keep up with the changing demand landscape?

Speakers:

Guillaume Flammier, Senior Oil and Tanker Analyst, Cargill International SA

Paul Hicks, Sales Representative, North America, Wallenius Wilhelmsen Ocean & Solutions

Captain Andrew Smiley, Vice President Shipping, Koch Supply & Trading

• Are global ports and terminals prepared for the changes in product flows?
• Is the storage market prepared to handle the anticipated fuel demand changes?
• What infrastructure updates need to occur to best move VLSFO and LNG to market?

Speakers:

Tony Odak, CEO, John W. Stone Oil

Rick Marriner, Trading Manager, Motiva