Oil Usage News

Pacific Power Group (PPG) is powering a new custom-built vessel for whale watching with Volvo Penta engines, engine monitoring and throttle controls that will improve the experience for Prince of Whales passengers. PPG’s marine team is powering the Salish Sea Dream with four Volvo Penta D13-700 Inboard turbo diesel engines that will each supply 700 HP at 2,300 RPM, providing faster acceleration and better ability to maintain high top speed. This allows Prince of Whales to offer passengers greater whale watching experiences, additional viewing opportunities and extended tours.

Eniram Ltd., a provider of energy management technology and analytic services to the shipping industry, announced at Gastech the release of Eniram Engine, a new tool to help guide TFDE LNG carriers' engineers and officers efficient use of engines and fuel. High engine efficiency is imperative to achieve low specific fuel consumption (SFC) and cost savings. Eniram Engine takes into account real-time engine operation by combining data from onboard fuel flow meters with generator loads, power produced and SFC.

Neste Oil is planning to exit its shipping business. According to the plan, the company would sell all its own vessels and outsource the ship management functions currently covering them, with around 320 ship management personnel transferring to a new employer. Neste Shipping's chartering functions would be retained and integrated with Neste Oil's organization. Going forward, Neste Oil intends sourcing its marine transportation through contractual arrangements. "Neste Oil's shipping needs have changed in recent years," explains Neste Oil's President & CEO, Matti Lievonen.

Nine CSL Newbuilds Eliminate oil usage with seawater lubricated propeller shaft bearings. The drive for pollution free ships continues as Canadian-based ship owners, CSL Group Inc., eliminate oil from the stern tube and equip nine of their latest new builds with seawater lubricated propeller shaft bearings. CSL has specified non-metallic propeller shaft bearings that use seawater rather than oil to lubricate the shafts on the Trillium Class vessels built at Chengxi Shipyard and Yangfan Shipyard in China.

According to the International Energy Agency’s Monthly Oil Market Report, global demand for oil usage has been adjusted slightly downward, as persistent economic uncertainty and sustained high oil prices have simultaneously thwarted demand’s previous trek upward. While global economic growth assumptions remain basically unchanged for 2011 and 2012, weakness in 3Q2011 has sparked concern. IEA estimated global demand in September, albeit based on preliminary data, as flat compared to the same month in 2010. This follows growth of 1.4% in August. If this result holds, it would signal the weakest monthly demand growth since October 2009.

Rising Korean aspirations as to market influence and technological standing could alter the established order in an important segment of the engine business. While MAN B&W announced opening contracts for its new L21/31 design as a marine auxiliary, Hyundai Heavy Industries was preparing to roll-out its first-ever, self-originated engine type targeted at a similar power range. The H21/32 signals the emergence of Hyundai, the world's largest producer of marine diesels, as a designer in its own right. The company's development of the in-house Himsen brand denotes a move towards increased technological self-reliance, given the wholesale dependence up until now on manufacturing licenses from foreign engine firms.