Well over 100 ships are understood to have been affected by contaminated fuels in a crisis that first hit Houston in March and has spread to Singapore and other parts of South East Asia.

Vessels bunkering in these regions have suffered mechanical issues ranging from simple clogged pipes and filters to full engine breakdown and power loss.

Technical analysis is trying to uncover whether the contaminated fuels came from the same source, either in the blending or refining processes.