Ship Emissions: Chevron Lube Gains Key Approval
A new Chevron Marine Lubricants 100 BN cylinder oil, which is designed to offer ship owners the ability to achieve the latest emissions legislation, has received full sign off from a key engine maker. Chevron Marine Products LLC launched its Taro Special HT 100 lubricant earlier this year.
MAN Diesel & Turbo (MDT) has upgraded its interim approval for this product to a full ‘no objection letter’ following extensive sea trials. The trials were successfully conducted on a VLCC equipped with the latest generation MAN G-engine Mk 9.2 and took place in early 2014 under conditions prescribed by MAN.
The trial procedures included: piston inspection, drip oil analysis, visual port inspections and liner surface condition and wear examinations. This trial successfully demonstrated lower required feed rates compared to commercial 70 BN oils to achieve the OEM-recommended performance, providing liner wear protection and minimization of wear. It should be noted that these lower feed ratescan offset the difference in cost between the new 100 BN formulation and traditional 70BN oil.
In addition to the trials Chevron Marine has accumulated nearly 300,000 hours worth of commercial operation with Taro Special HT 100.
The development of Taro Special HT 100 was overseen from Chevron Marine’s affiliated global research and development facility in Ghent, Belgium, which undertakes in depth analysis of many thousands of lubricant samples from deep sea vessels every year. The scientists in Ghent have formulated a new lubricant which both provides excellent engine protection in a range of harsh operating conditions.
