Panolin News

It might be easy to blame EALs, but the ongoing causes of stern tube damage are varied, and possibly declining.Environmentally Acceptable lubricants (EALs) gained market traction with the introduction of US VGP regulations in 2013. Since then, DNV has observed two major trends. The first, starting in 2013 was early life damage, either during sea trials or within the first five years of operation, where aft stern tube bearings typically failed under extreme load conditions. Then from around 2018…

Dutch shipbuilding conglomerate Damen announced it has delivered a new shallow draft vessel to the German energy infrastructure construction company Bohlen & Doyen Bau GmbH, a subsidiary of Friedrich Vorwerk. The new Multi Cat 1908 SD workboat, named Scholle, is the first marine asset to be bought by the company in many years.The 19.4-meter vessel has been bought for use on a multi-year project supporting transmission system operator TenneT on its offshore grid connection systems in the North Sea.

Supermajor Shell anounced its subsidiaries in Switzerland, the UK, US and Sweden have entered into agreements to acquire the environmentally considerate lubricants (ECLs) business of the PANOLIN Group.The transaction includes the PANOLIN brand, ECL product formulations, intellectual property, technical expertise and technology, international customer base and portfolio of products – for hydraulics, gears, universal tractor transmission oils, biodegradable engine oils (HDEO), turbine oils…

PANOLIN HLP SYNTH 32 is the first and so far only eco-friendly hydraulic oil to feature in the Bosch Rexroth RDE 90245 Fluid Rating List. “Yet again, we have proven that our biodegradable products such as PANOLIN HLP SYNTH 32 also meet the highest industry requirements,” said Patrick Lämmle, Chairman of the Board of Directors of PANOLIN International. “PANOLIN HLP SYNTH is the first rapidly biodegradable hydraulic oil to obtain the Fluid Rating (ISO 15380 in combination with RFT-APU-CL test),” Lämmle said.

PANOLIN America, Inc. announced it is now offering customers more stern tube lubricating options. With the success of STELLA MARIS stern tube lubricant, PANOLIN said it found itself continually being asked about older vessel solutions. Older stern tube applications come with compatibility concerns. When upgrading to the new KEMEL or Wartsila Bio Seals, most customers are happy to fill with STELLA MARIS. But in the cases where customers don’t need to change seals or are happy with existing seal options, PANOLIN can offer STELLA MARIS NRT. This alternative formulation based on renewable technology meets additional Eco Labels along with a wider range of seal compatibility.

Nothing stirs the maritime pot like new regulation, and coming soon to you (in less than a month) is the new iteration of the Vessel General Permit (VGP). The VGP applies to vessels operating in a capacity as a means of transportation, that have discharges incidental to their normal operations into waters subject to this permit, except recreational vessels. Unless otherwise excluded from coverage, the waters subject to this permit means “territorial seas” of the U.S. The Clean Water Act (CWA) does not require NPDES permits for vessels or other floating craft operating as a means of transportation beyond the territorial seas, such as in the contiguous zone or ocean. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is issuing a replacement VGP permit under its authority from the CWA.

Water in oil lubricated systems is undesirable. In a perfect installation, there would be no seal damage or water ingress, but vessel owners encounter this all the time. Panolin's Stella Maris stern tube lubricant is based on 100% saturated synthetic ester technology with the most effective performance enhancing additives. This fully synthetic ISO VG 68, 100, 150 and 220 Stella Maris stern tube lubricant provides biodegradability and superior lubricity to protect metal surfaces, while meeting new 2013 VGP requirements. Stella Maris is not an emulsifying lubricant. It readily separates from water. The few emulsifying properties, approximately 800-1…

With nearly 30 years experience in producing environmentally-considerate lubricants, PANOLIN offers its VGP-compliant Greenmarine products to help owners and operators meet the imminent EPA requirements. Unlike most trying to comply with the EPA VGP, PANOLIN say that their products are not a newcomers on the market. Some of the world's largest hydraulic equipment OEMs have relied on PANOLIN products for decades. PANOLIN Greenmarine lubricants use fully saturated synthetic esters and specially developed additives to achieve 100% VGP and sVGP compliance without sacrificing performance.

In the search to find EPA Vessel General Permit (VGP) compliant lubricants, ship owners don't have to sacrifice performance or competitive pricing to meet the regulations. Panolin America offers a range of Greenmarine environmentally considerate lubricants, including its high-performance hydraulic fluid HLP Synth. Developed more than two decades ago, HLP Synth derives from saturated synthetic esters, rather than vegetable or mineral oils. Like all Greenmarine products, it is 100% VGP and sVGP compliant.