TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Process: The hydrocarbon feed has an initial boiling point of at least 220 degrees C, as measured according to ASTM D-2887. The hydrocarbon feed is a vacuum gas oil fraction or a long residue. The catalytic cracking is performed at a temperature of greater than 450 degrees C. The cracking catalyst comprises a zeolite. Preferred Process: The catalyst in step (a) is a hydro processing catalyst comprising ruthenium, rhenium, rhodium-cobalt-, nickel- and/or nickel-copper as hydrogenating component on a catalyst carrier that is inert at the reaction conditions.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Process: The process further comprises: (e) subjecting a product fraction obtained in step (d) to a process for the removal of heteroatom containing compounds to obtain a product fraction reduced in heteroatom content; (f) adding the product fraction obtained in step (e) to a fuel composition. The step (a) is performed at a temperature of 200 to below 400 degrees C. EXAMPLE - Pyrolysis oil (2.5 kg) was loaded into an autoclave (5 l) followed by fresh (unused) ruthenium/carbon catalyst (5 wt.%). The maximum operating temperature and pressure were 350 degrees C and 340 bar, respectively. The autoclave was filled with hydrogen until the desired starting pressure (typically 200 bars) was reached, and the valve between the reactor and the supply vessel was closed. Then, the electrical heating jacket and the high intensity hollow shaft stirrer (2000 rpm) were turned on. The typical heating rate was 5.5 degrees C/minute until 270 degrees C, being slower after that (-4 degrees C/minute). More hydrogen was added to the reactor until the desired reaction pressure was reached (preferably 290 bars). After the reaction was deemed complete, the hydrogen supply was stopped and the stirrer was left on for 30 minutes more. The whole system was left to cool down overnight. The product comprised 3 phases, an organic top and bottom phase, and an aqueous phase. The organic liquid product phases were combined, and then filtered to remove the catalyst and worked up to afford fuel products.