You are using an outdated browser For a better experience using this site, please upgrade to a modern web browser. Subscribe Get Daily Email Subscribe --> Contact Us Sign in Home News & Features Compliance Costs Bunker Prices Bunker Intelligence World News Latest Features World Americas EMEA Asia/Pacific Home News & Features World When Safety Depends on Fuel: The Hidden Risk in Emergency Assets When Safety Depends on Fuel: The Hidden Risk in Emergency Assets by VPS Thursday October 1, 2026 Tweet Follow @shipandbunker In an emergency at sea, there is no second chance. If a lifeboat engine fails to start, an emergency generator cannot take load, or a diesel driven fire pump loses power, the consequences can be immediate and serious. Fuel is only one part of emergency equipment reliability but it is essential and can remain largely unseen as the equipment sits on standby for prolonged periods. Careful selection of this fuel can minimise the risks of failure when it is needed most. Executive Summary Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) regulations, require emergency equipment to be immediately available and capable of performing its intended safety function. The fuel carried within this key safety equipment must be suitable and maintained in a condition that ensures reliable operation of lifeboats, emergency generators and other emergency assets when called upon. To support SOLAS regulations and requirements, there is within ISO8217, a special-purpose distillate grade fuel, ISO-F-DMX, specification, specifically intended for use in emergency equipment. With DMX-grade fuel, ISO8217 has specified a set of parameters and test scope. The properties of this fuel are designed to ensure rapid ignition after long idle periods, low-temperature operability, long-term storage stability and absence of biodiesel-related degradation risks. Accordingly, these properties include a relatively high minimum cetane index, defined low temperature performance and the requirement that the fu