LSMGO is a distillate marine fuel with sulphur content at or below 0.10%. It is the standard compliance fuel for Emission Control Areas (ECAs) worldwide — the North American ECA, North Sea, Baltic, and Mediterranean SOx ECA — as well as a common choice for auxiliary engines and vessels not running VLSFO.
Emission Control Area compliance, auxiliary engines, emergency generators, smaller vessels running distillate throughout
Unlike VLSFO and HSFO which are residual fuels (heavy, viscous, require heating), LSMGO is a distillate — essentially a marine diesel, lighter and cleaner-burning. It requires no onboard heating, separates less readily, and behaves more predictably than residual grades.
In ECAs, vessels must use fuel with ≤0.10% sulphur unless equipped with certified SOx-reducing technology. LSMGO is the default compliance fuel, particularly for vessels without scrubbers or whose scrubbers are not approved for ECA operation.
Even on vessels running VLSFO or HSFO for main propulsion, auxiliary engines (generators, boilers) often run on LSMGO, particularly during port stays and ECA operations. This creates steady demand separate from main-engine fuel choice.
LSMGO is distillate, so more expensive per tonne than residual VLSFO — but burns cleaner, requires less maintenance on separators and injectors, and is more reliable in cold-climate operations. Many operators use LSMGO consumption to reduce long-term engine wear costs.
Ports in our directory where LSMGO is available as a standard commercial grade:
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