Image: Shell

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Van Oord has signed a five-year partnership agreement with Shell Marine covering the lubrication needs of its entire fleet of vessels.

The all-inclusive agreement was signed in a ceremony held at Van Oord's headquarters in Rotterdam, with Jaap de Jong signing on behalf of Van Oord and Inbar van de Burg for Shell Marine.

As part of the agreement, Van Oord will benefit from Shell Marine's LubeMonitor 4T programme to minimize lubrication feed rates and oil consumption.

Shell Marine's global team of field-based engineers will also be deployed to support the Van Oord vessels, as required. The team assists in lubrication surveys, vessel assessments and in-depth technical and application support, whilst focusing on value creation for its customers, such as optimising energy efficiency and upholding the sustainable supply chain.

Shell Marine's Marine Integrated Lubrication and Expert Solutions (MILES) proposition seeks to optimise customer benefits by bundling the supply of high-performance lubricants together with an array of technical services, logistics and delivery options tailored to the client's requirements.

De Jong, Staff Director Ship Management Department at Van Oord, said: "We are involved in dredging, oil & gas infrastructure and offshore wind projects around the world. We must have 100 percent reliability and optimum efficiency wherever our vessels are operating, and we must also be able to demonstrate the sustainability of our operations to meet our own goals of corporate social responsibility and those of the authorities we work with."

Marcus Schaerer, Shell Marine Global Marketing Manager, remarked: "Shell Marine is gaining global recognition for its MILES programme, with uptake accelerating around the world. Van Oord is a long-standing Shell Marine customer. Its five-year commitment marks a new step-forward in our relationship. It also underlines the value and reassurance that MILES can provide maritime businesses involved in complex projects that offer little leeway for any disruption to vessel uptime."