---

Shell Marine has announced that it has been awarded Cosco Shipping Lines' largest marine lubricants order in 2017.

The order covers the full range of marine lubricants and technical services for seven out of Cosco Shipping's 10 new-generation, ultra-large container carriers (ULCCs), each with a capacity of approximately 20,000 TEUs each.

Since 2004, Shell Marine says it has supplied marine lubricants to more than 140 Cosco Shipping vessels. The new ULCCs, ordered in 2015, are due to enter into service from 2018-2019.

Jan Toschka, Shell Marine Executive Director, said the level of customer engagement in the new deal includes provision of onboard testing - assisting not only in the operator's blend-on-board program and oil drain monitoring, but also providing customized analysis and comments in Chinese as part of the Shell Rapid Lubricants Analysis report.

Shell has also positioned one of its 'Technical Maritime Hubs' in Shanghai, with technical experts ready to provide services to Cosco Shipping.

Toschka remarked: "The quality of marine lubricants is critical for engine reliability; the application of the right technical services enable ship owners and operators to optimise their vessels' total cost of ownership. In today's highly competitive and challenging maritime sector, operational reliability and excellent account management have become table stakes, and we in Shell Marine are stepping up to the plate. Securing this major contract for ships that play a leading role in delivering Chinese exports on the just-in-time basis required at this scale demonstrates owner preferences for proven lubricant performance, supported by a global logistics network and comprehensive technical services."

Shell Marine offers a range of lubricating oils for marine engines burning gas, heavy fuel, gas oil or liquid biofuel. Its engine oils are designed to minimize deposit build-up and to help keep engines clean.

As previously reported by Bunker Index, last month, Shell Marine officially launched its two-stroke engine cylinder oil Shell Alexia 140.

Shell Alexia 140 joins Alexia S3 (BN25), Alexia S4 (BN 60), Alexia 50 (BN 70) and Alexia S6 (BN100), in a range covering fuel types from LNG to HSFO, operating regimes from full load to slow steaming, and engines of all ages.

Also in November, Shell opened Asia-Pacific's second-biggest lubricant plant. The new facility, which is capable of producing up to 390,000 tonnes of lubricants and greases per year, is to be used as a production hub for products that will be shipped to more than 40 countries, mainly in the Asia-Pacific region.

Cosco Shipping is in the process of taking over Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL), which currently operates the largest container ships afloat.

Earlier this year, OOCL appointed Shell Marine to provide integrated marine solutions to serve its marine lubricants and services for the OOCL Hong Kong - the 21,413-TEU capacity vessel which, on delivery, claimed the accolade of world's largest container ship.