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Chemicals and Lubricants

A broader

response to precise

lubricant questions

W
ith only fuels of up to 0.1% sulphur content now “The cost and reliability of vessel operations can be

allowed inside designated Emissions Controlaffected by changes to a number of different factors,” said Jan
Areas instead of the previous 1%, many ship Toschka, General Manager, Shell Marine Products.

owners have opted to meet the new requirements by using low “These include fuel sulphur content, but also climatic
sulphur fuel oil.conditions such as high humidity, liner wall temperatures

Heavy fuel oil (HFO) with a sulphur content of up to 3.5% and engine load inluences such as hull fouling and propeller
will be allowed elsewhere until at least 2020, but it is what eficiency, changes to engine settings and operating conditions.”

happens after that which is causing uncertainty for owners.He explained that the considered response to these
An IMO review in 2018 will determine global regulation, variables from the cylinder oil development perspective has

but the European Union has said it will further limit sulphur fuel been a portfolio of lubricants for two-stroke engines broad
content from 2020 regardless.enough to accommodate the different imperatives.

At the same time, the need to develop ship engines for lower “In a changing regulatory landscape, SMP has invested in a

sulphur content HFO and new fuel types coincided with years broad range of cylinder oils for two stroke engines,” he said.
of oil inlation that caused owners to cut operating speeds for SMP now offers a wide range of cylinder oils, with base

the majority of their tonnage. Despite recent falls in oil prices, numbers ranging from 25BN to 100BN to take account of
engines fed by HFO continue to run mainly at part-loads that different fuel sulphur contents, vessel operating proiles and

expose vulnerability to cold corrosion.engine loads.

34 The SHIP Supplier Issue 66 2015