Virgin Fuel Oil D6
D6 is a trade name for residual fuel oil: the heavy fraction left after lighter products are distilled from crude. It fuels power stations, industrial boilers and ships.
What the name means
The grade corresponds to No. 6 fuel oil in ASTM D396. Virgin means the oil comes straight from refining and contains no used or reprocessed oil.
Fuel oil sold for ships follows ISO 8217. Since 1 January 2020 the International Maritime Organization has limited sulfur in marine fuel to 0.50% worldwide and 0.10% in emission control areas, so sulfur content decides where a parcel can be used.
- Product type
- Residual fuel oil
- Governing standards
- ASTM D396 (No. 6 fuel oil); ISO 8217 for marine use
- Sold by
- The metric ton
- Typical buyers
- Power producers, industrial plants and marine fuel suppliers
- Carried in
- Tankers with heated cargo tanks
What buyers specify
| Property | Reference | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Sulfur | Stated in the contract; 0.50% maximum for ships without scrubbers | Fixed by maritime and local air-quality rules. |
| Viscosity at 50 °C | Commonly 180 or 380 mm²/s maximum | Decides the heating needed before the fuel can be pumped and burned. |
| Density at 15 °C | 991 kg/m³ maximum (ISO 8217 RMG 380) | Converts volume to weight and indicates energy content. |
| Flash point | 60 °C minimum | A safety limit for storage and handling. |
| Pour point | 30 °C maximum (ISO 8217 RMG) | Below this temperature the oil stops flowing. |
| Water | 0.5% by volume maximum (ISO 8217) | Water adds no energy and promotes sludge. |
Limits are those published in the named standards, given for reference. The specification written into the sales contract governs.
Related grades
No. 6 fuel oil
The boiler and power-station grade defined in ASTM D396.
High-sulfur fuel oil
Sulfur up to 3.50%, for land-based users where permitted and for ships with exhaust scrubbers.
Very-low-sulfur fuel oil
Sulfur of 0.50% or less. The standard marine fuel since 2020.
Storage and shipping
- Heating. Fuel oil is kept warm in storage and at sea so that it stays pumpable.
- Blending. Most grades are blends. Stability and compatibility are tested so that components do not separate.
- Inspection. An independent inspector normally samples and certifies the parcel at the loading port.
- Quantity. Measured by tank gauging, with temperature and density corrections.
Storage and transport are provided by third-party terminal operators and carriers. We coordinate them. How storage and shipping are arranged
What to send with your enquiry
- Sulfur limit and viscosity required
- End use: power generation, industrial or marine
- Quantity in tonnes
- Destination port or terminal and preferred Incoterm
- Delivery window
Send these details and we will tell you whether we can source the product and on what terms. Price, quantity and specification are fixed in the sales contract.