Tag: marine lubricants

  Total has announced the start up of its largest state-of-the-art lubricants oil blending plant in the world, located in Singapore. With an annual production capacity of 310,000 metric tons , this new major hub will boost Total’s lubricant supply in the Asia-Pacific region, which already represents more than 25% of Total’s lubricants sales. “Our new Singapore lubricants hub illustrates our strategy to grow the Marketing & Services segment while maintaining a high profitability and contributing strongly to the Group’s financial performance. It will allow us to expand our position as one of the top global players in this high return business segment. Total aims to leverage its partnerships to outpace market growth in Asia, which is a key region for future energy demand”, said Philippe Boisseau, member of Total’s Executive Committee, President of Marketing & Services. Total intends to double its Asian sales, with production from the new plant accounting for a majority of the accelerated growth. The new facility will produce the highest quality lubricant oils and supply a wide range of segments in the Asia Pacific region, including automotives (two wheelers and cars), industrials and marine. With a population of more than 4 billion, Asian demand for ...

  The West of England P&I Club issued a Loss Prevention Bulletin on marine diesel engine lubrication. In recent months several entered vessels have experienced main engine breakdowns caused by heavily contaminated lubricating oil. All of the vessels were relatively new. Modern marine diesel engines are technically complex and are becoming increasingly powerful and efficient. However, newer engines can be less forgiving than older units if not operated, maintained and lubricated correctly. Lubricating Oil The lubrication of moving parts is crucial to diesel engine performance and longevity. Lubricating oil reduces friction between components, separates opposing surfaces and prevents metal-to-metal contact. It also acts as a coolant and mitigates the effect of corrosion. However, the condition of the oil tends to deteriorate with use, mainly due to contamination and chemical activity. The manufacturer’s manual for the engine will provide details of the quality and properties of lubricating oil required. The manual will also include guidance on how the oil should be monitored and maintained while the engine is running to ensure that it remains suitable for use. Such advice is generally based on research findings, operational experience, ongoing analysis and other factors including technical common sense. The details will also include a ...

  Since the implementation of Emission Control Areas (ECAs) on 1 January 2015, ships entering waters in the Baltic Sea; the North Sea; the North American ECA, including most of the US and Canadian coast, as well as the French overseas collectivities of St. Pierre and Miquelon; and the US Caribbean ECA, including Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. Sea had to use fuels with up to 0.1% sulphur content. Shell Marine Products (SMP) introduced a complete line of ECA-approved marine lubricants in September 2014.  This complete portfolio includes Shell Alexia S3, formulated for use in two-stroke engines with low sulphur and distillate fuels up to 0.5% sulphur.  SMP also offers Shell Gadinia for medium-speed four-stroke engines like the one in the Harvey Energy, Shell’s new chartered offshore supply vessel (OSV) in the Gulf of Mexico.  Shell Mysella for gas-powered engines is used on Shell’s chartered barge Greenstream, the world’s first 100-percent LNG-powered barge which carries goods along Europe’s Rhine River. “We have been pleasantly surprised by the demand that our ECA-approved lubricants have gotten.  We have been quick to expand availability of our product range throughout our port network.  Today, Shell Alexia S3 is available in over 330 ports ...

Total Lubmarine has received approval from Kemel, a key producer of stern tube seals and other marine sealing technology, for its Bioneptan range of lubricants. Total Lubmarine’s Bioneptan range is composed of high quality synthetic biodegradable lubricants designed specifically for vessels’ stern tubes. Bioneptan products are classed as environmentally acceptable lubricants (EALs) and comply with the US Environmental Protection Agency’s 2013 Vessel General Permit (VGP) regulations for stern tube application. Bioneptan products are now being made available in all shipping hubs. Bioneptan products are approved for use with all types of Kemel seals, of all diameters. They are particularly recommended for the lubrication of sliding rolling bearings within stern tubes. Offering outstanding viscosimetric performances, the lubricants perform in a wide range of operating temperatures, including especially low temperatures, and have outstanding anti-wear and anti-corrosion properties. Total Lubmarine’s Global Marketing Manager Serge Dal Farra said: “Kemel’s comprehensive approval comes after a year of demanding sea trials using the Bioneptan range on-board almost 200 vessels. Total Lubmarine technicians remained in close contact and co-operated strongly with Kemel throughout the trial period. Product engineer Arnaud Amiot also played a key role throughout the approval process.” Source: Total Lubmarine In the outbreak, I was ...

LUKOIL Marine congratulated MSC on launching the MSC Oscar, the largest container vessel in the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) fleet (in teu capacity). With the launch of the MSC Oscar, MSC sets a new record: with its 19,224teu capacity, the latest addition to the MSC family is the largest container vessel ever built. It was officially inaugurated at the Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME) Shipyard in South Korea on 8th January and will service trade routes between Asia and Europe. “Congratulations to MSC on this fantastic achievement. We are very proud to be the lubricant supplier for the MSC Oscar”, said Jan Thiedeitz, Director of LUKOIL Marine Lubricants. The company, specialising in marine lubricants, is an important business partner for MSC, supplying lubricants to more than 100 vessels in the MSC fleet. But it is not only the size of the vessel which is impressive. MSC also demonstrates its concern for the environment for example, by equipping the MSC Oscar with increased fuel efficiency engines for a healthier supply chain. For all its new orders, MSC trusts in the pioneering technology developed by LUKOIL Marine Lubricants: the iCOlube. This is an 'intelligent cylinder oil lubrication' unit optimizing both the ...

Thordon Bearings  has questioned the rise of so-called environmentally acceptable lubricants (EALs) in oil-based stern tube seals and bearings when the industry can use the most environmentally safe lubricant there is – seawater. The US Environmental Protection Agency is enforcing regulations introduced in December 2013 that stipulate that all vessels over 24m operating in US waters must switch over to EALs in all oil-to-sea interfaces before their next drydocking. “But what is the point in shipowners investing in costly bio-lubricants when seawater is widely available and 100% free? It’s akin to paying for the very air we breathe,” said Craig Carter, Thordon Bearings’ Director of Marketing and Customer Service. “When used in conjunction with Thordon Bearings’ COMPAC propeller shaft bearing system, seawater lubricates the bearings to ensure the smooth, effective and safe operation of the vessel. Not only do we guarantee our seawater-lubricated COMPAC system for a wear life of fifteen years, but it reduces a shipowner’s annual operating and maintenance costs substantially, compared to an EAL-lubricated metal bearing and two seal system,” continued Carter. In its recently published comparative research into the operational costs of using mineral oil, approved EALs or seawater in a propeller shaft bearing system, Thordon ...

A question often heard in offshore and marine circles is “What is a green oil?” That leads on to “What is an oil spill?”  Following a successful workshop on the subject at the International Marine Contractors Association’s (IMCA) Annual Seminar in 2012, a new publication ‘Understanding Biodegradable Lubricants: An Introduction to ‘Green’ Oil in Hydraulic Systems Offshore’ (IMCA R 019) is now available to help answer these questions, and alleviate some of the confusion. “A number of contributors have helped to compile our new publication,” explains IMCA’s Technical Director, Jane Bugler. “It is not intended to be wholly definitive and the reader will quickly appreciate that there is a degree of chemical composition and science to be aware of in order to better understand the information. Where needed, practical explanations or reference reading have been included.   “In addition, there is significantly more detailed and complex data available to the industry The aim of this new guidance is only to provide an initial point of reference.  It should be noted that it has been largely drawn from European and American sources. When operating in other regions it is imperative that local information is used to ensure compliance with local ‘oil ...

With recent developments, such as the prevalent practice of slow steaming, new environmental regulations such as the revised vessel general permit (VGP) in US waters and the change in fuel sulphur limits in ECAs, the importance of technical service is increasingly crucial to bringing peace of mind to ship operators. Shell Marine Products (SMP) employs a team of technical experts spread out around the world that is dedicated to help solve customers’ lubrication issues and also help improve equipment performance.  They answer technical queries, give product and changeover advice and provide technical troubleshooting.  An SMP technical expert also conducts onsite equipment inspections as well as consults with the ship’s chief engineer to verify if the proper feed rate is applied to optimise operations. Aside from its technical experts, SMP also offers Shell Rapid Lubricants Analysis, which includes a comprehensive lubricant sampling plan; recommendation of the most appropriate test suite for each piece of equipment; and advice on sampling frequency and how to take a representative sample of used oil. There is also the Shell Rapid Lubricants Onboard Alert, a unique portable device that provides on board measurement and recording of magnetic iron content in oils and greases. “These days, offering a ...

The marine lubricants market is under huge pressure to provide long-term solutions to its ship operating customers and Total Lubmarine is investing in new simple solutions according to Jean-Philippe Roman, Total Lubmarine’s technical director. Speaking  at the Fuels, Lubes & Emissions Technology Conference in London, he outlined Total Lubmarine’s innovative approach to forthcoming regulations in the marine fuels market, in particular developments in emission control zones (ECAs) stipulated by the MARPOL Annex VI directive that will enter into force in 2015. “From a customer’s point of view, a good lubricant is a lubricant which offers both improved performance and is simple to use. Low sulphur fuels and eco-engines throw up many challenges to lubricant suppliers and Total Lubmarine is committed to investing in the chemistry that will deliver the simpler oil lubricants in the future,” said Jean-Philippe Roman. Total Lubmarine has been pro-active in developing solutions to the soon-to-be enforced ECA regulations within its specialist sector of marine lubricants, anticipating the change and complexity that will be conferred on ship owners and managers. As of January 2015, ships in the world’s ECA areas will be required by law to burn fuel with a sulphur content of less than 0.1 percent. ...