Meeting the regulatory prerequisites without changing to an EAL
Wärtsilä announced that its Wärtsilä Airguard and Wärtsilä Oceanguard propeller shaft sealing systems can continue to utilise mineral oil since they meet the guidelines set out in the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) 2013 revised Vessel General Permit. The guidelines came into force in December 2013 and the position of the Environmental Protection Agency was published in a webinar organised by the EPA on 14 February 2014.
This means that the Wärtsilä Airguard and Wärtsilä Oceanguard seals meet the defined regulatory prerequisites and that owners and operators of commercial vessels of over 79ft (24 metres), sailing within US waters with either of these Wärtsilä systems installed, are not required to change to an Environmentally Acceptable Lubricant (EAL).
With the Wärtsilä Airguard and Wärtsilä Oceanguard propeller shaft sealing systems there is no oil-to-sea interface. An air chamber or separation space within the seal captures any water or oil leakage, which is then transferred to inboard tanks for monitoring and further treatment. This completely eliminates oil drips or leakage into the sea. The EPA requires these designs to be functioning normally, which can be assured by proper operation and maintenance according to Wärtsilä’s guidelines. In case of system failure, both systems also prevent any reasonable possibility of oil leakage, which is the second criterion for the continued use of mineral oils.
Source and Image Credit: Wartsila
