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Marine lubricant supplier Castrol Marine has increased the port availability of Cyltech 80 AW, an 80 BN (base number) cylinder oil, due to growing demand.

David Goosey, Castrol Marine’s Chief Executive and Sales Director, said: "We have responded to increasing demand from our customers for wider availability of our Cyltech 80 AW cylinder oil by expanding the supply network from five to 35 ports in key regions."

"The popularity of our premium 80 BN product has grown since being made available last year via our main regional distribution hubs," added Goosey.

Ports where customers will be able to book supplies include: Antwerp, Rotterdam, Le Havre, Marseille, Hamburg, Bremen, Kiel, Singapore, Port Klang, Busan, Ulsan, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Fujairah, Dubai, Jebel Ali and Khor Fakkan.

Castrol’s recommendation that owners adopt Cyltech 80 AW was initially prompted to address the implementation of slow steaming practices by operators of large containerships fitted with large bore 2-stroke crosshead main engines.

However, wider availability reflects a direct response to increasing demand for other mainstream vessel types, including bulk carriers, for an OEM-approved product proven in diverse service.

Cyltech 80 AW is formulated for lubricating the cylinders of all types of crosshead engines operating on high sulphur residual fuel, typically above 2.5%.

It is also especially recommended for ships operating under slow and super slow steaming conditions when main engines operate at reduced power, often below 60% of their full load capability. Under such conditions cylinder liner temperatures are reduced and oil residence time is substantially increased. Both factors intensify demands on the cylinder lubricant to neutralise the acids formed as a result of combustion.

Another concern when slow steaming is that considerably less lubricant is fed into the engine and, under severe conditions, the prevailing lubrication regime moves from hydrodynamic to more boundary conditions; this may result in oil film breakdown and risk of mechanical wear.

According to Castrol, Cyltech 80 AW can prevent reduced periods between unit overhauls that can occur with lower BN products by offering:

- Enhanced protection of liners against corrosive wear and scuffing, especially under slow steaming conditions and with optimised cylinder oil feed rates.

- Excellent detergency properties, resulting in cleaner piston and liner conditions than lower BN products.

- High levels of thermal and oxidative stability.

- Low oil feed rates can be maintained even when slow steaming, helping to control annual lubrication costs.

"We know from field experience that Cyltech 80 AW provides improved neutralisation capacity and hence better corrosion protection across the fuel sulphur range while slow steaming than a mid-BN lubricant," said Paul Harrold, Castrol’s Marine and Energy Technology Manager.

"By selecting the right cylinder oil for the right operating conditions, customers reducing their fuel bill by slow steaming, can be confident in the knowledge they are not risking damage to their engine; and that is why we recommend Cyltech 80 AW for many customers."