Wed 11 Apr 2018 12:55

ExxonMobil to launch monitoring service that measures fuel sulphur content


Service is said to also identify issues such as over- or under-lubrication, cold corrosion and the presence of cat fines.


Iain White, global field engineering manager at ExxonMobil Marine.
Image: ExxonMobil
ExxonMobil has announced that it is launching Mobil Serv Cylinder Condition Monitoring - its new cylinder condition monitoring service.

Designed to deliver significant cost savings for operators, ExxonMobil claims the service will help manage and improve engine protection and optimise performance.

By using Mobil Serv Cylinder Condition Monitoring, operators will receive recommendations on feed rate and cylinder oil to optimise engine lubricant consumption and enable customers to act on recommendations quickly before they escalate into potentially catastrophic problems that can often lead to significant costs.

In addition, the monitoring service will have the ability to measure the sulphur content of the vessel's fuel.

"This has never been more important - in the lead up to the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) 2020 global 0.5% sulphur cap and existing 0.1% sulphur limit in the Emission Control Areas (ECAs) this gives operators peace of mind that the fuel they have on board is compliant," ExxonMobil said.

Pamela Skaufel, Director - Aviation and Marine Lubricants, ExxonMobil, explained: "We have designed this next generation service to support our customers with the evolving challenges they face. Using the onboard service, they will benefit from accurate analysis of their engine's performance in real-time which will help them make smart decisions and, ultimately, lead to efficient vessel operation."

Iain White, Global Field Engineering Manager, ExxonMobil, remarked: "Vessel operators are under increased pressure to improve efficiency and drive cost reduction initiatives. This next-generation scrape[-]down oil analysis service can identify issues such as over or under-lubrication, cold corrosion and the presence of cat fines. But crucially, this can happen quicker than ever before with our next-generation service. Customers will receive recommendations that can be immediately addressed, allowing them to correct inefficiencies and reduce downtime that potentially lead to significant cost savings."

The cylinder scrape-down oil analysis service is said to provide the following benefits:

- Safe, fast, simple and accurate onboard sampling process with minimal preparation and no wet chemistry - reducing human error and handling of hazardous materials;

- Scan-and-go technology for easy registration of samples;

- A cloud-based platform allowing customers to receive real-time reports on engine health and provide actionable insights within minutes of sample submission;

- Tailored lubricant recommendations from ExxonMobil's extensive database of more than 500,000 data samples, benchmarking vessel performance by engine type and operating conditions;

- A detailed suite of reporting tools which charts the customer's realised and potential savings.

Mobil Serv Cylinder Condition Monitoring will be available from July 2018 and is the latest addition to ExxonMobil's global Mobil Serv portfolio, launched last year.

To meet the needs of modern shipping, customers will be able to purchase this new service through a subscription that offers flexible payment terms.

To find out more about ExxonMobil's Mobil Serv Cylinder Condition Monitoring service, please click here.