CMA CGM Sues Over Contaminated Bunkers in Houston

French shipping giant CMA CGM has filed a lawsuit in a Texas court against GCC Supply & Trading, seeking over $5 million in damages related to allegedly contaminated marine fuel supplied in 2023. 

According to court documents, CMA CGM claims that 13 of its vessels suffered engine damage after being fueled with very low sulfur fuel oil (VLSFO) in Houston during the first half of last year. 

“Shortly after the fuel was supplied, the Vessels encountered significant operational issues, including but not limited to fuel pump seizures, ICU leakages, loss of engine power and propulsion in some cases leading to blackouts,” CMA CGM said in its legal complaint. 

In June 2023, fuel testing agency VPS reported a contamination incident at the Port of Houston, the busiest bunkering port in the Americas. The agency identified unusually high concentrations of dicyclopentadiene (DCPD) and related isomers in VLSFO samples from a single supplier over several months. 

DCPD is a type of unsaturated hydrocarbon that can increase the stickiness and viscosity of fuel, potentially leading to severe performance issues in marine engines. 

The case highlights ongoing concerns in the shipping industry about fuel quality and the risks posed by off-spec bunkers, especially in high-traffic fueling hubs.