SUBSCRIBER NOTE: Platts proposes USAC 0.5%S fuel oil assessment from January 2, 2019

S&P Global Platts proposes to begin publishing a daily barge assessment for residual marine fuel in New York Harbor reflecting a maximum sulfur limit of 0.5%, starting January 2, 2019.

This proposal follows an announcement by Platts on March 26, 2018, to publish spot assessments for 0.5% marine fuel oil in Houston, Rotterdam, Fujairah and Singapore with effect from January 2, 2019. That announcement can be viewed at: https://www.spglobal.com/platts/en/our-methodology/subscriber-notes/032618-pl atts-to-publish-05-sulfur-marine-fuel-assessments

The launch of this assessment would come 12 months ahead of the planned introduction of new sulfur limits in marine fuels by the International Maritime Organization from January 1, 2020.

The new assessment would be called "USAC Marine Fuel 0.5%." As with existing USAC fuel oil assessments, the proposed assessment would reflect a minimum volume of 50,000 barrels delivered basis New York Harbor, 10-25 days forward from the date of publication, with a conversion factor of 6.35.

The new assessment would reflect specifications for RMG fuels as defined by the International Organization for Standardization in document ISO 8217:2010 Petroleum products - Fuels (class F) - Specifications of marine fuels, but with a sulfur cap of 0.5%. Feedback received so far also suggests that new 0.5% sulfur marine fuel blends are likely to be of comparatively lower viscosity than prevailing fuels.

Please send all feedback and questions to oilgroup@spglobal.com and pricegroup@spglobal.com The deadline for feedback is November 1, 2018.

For written comments, please provide a clear indication if comments are not intended for publication by Platts for public viewing. Platts will consider all comments received and will make comments not marked as confidential available upon request.