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Leading international marine lubricants supplier Total Lubmarine says its new cylinder oil, Talusia Universal, is the 'key' to sulphur limit compliance, providing 'the optimum lube solution' to problems encountered by owners and operators in meeting regulatory and environmental requirements relating to sulphur limits.

Speaking at the SMM international trade fair in Hamburg on September 9, Patrick Havil, global marketing manager of Lubmarine, explained, “Talusia Universal takes our industry to another level. It is proof of how far ahead we are in our development of lubricants. And it is evidence of just how much the world of lubricants and cylinder oils is changing.

“Lubricants have not always been top of the priority list for ship owners. But this is changing. In the current economic climate, ship operators simply cannot afford to ignore any potential cost savings that can easily be made. And in the current legislative climate, ship operators are forced to face issues arising from the need to operate within Emission Control Areas (ECAs). They must also, above all else, observe the highest standards of safety in order to protect both their workforce and the environment. When cast in this light, ship operators’ choice of lubricant takes on a new significance.”

With effect from 1 July 2010, all ships operating in the EU Emission Control Area have had to burn fuel with a maximum sulphur content of 1 percent, down from the previous limit of 1.5 percent. Shipowners are thus faced with not only fuel-switching difficulties but with the additional need for lubricant switching as they move in and out of the ECA. Furthermore, when the USA/Canada ECA comes into force in 2012, it will affect 50 percent of maritime traffic, and the issue of which lubricant to use will be absolutely vital.

Explaining why he believed Talusia Universal was the answer to these problems, Havil said, “When the difficulties of operating in ECAs are raised, we often hear about the challenges involved in switching fuels. What is often not mentioned is the fact that ship operators also face similar challenges in terms of lubricant switching. Talusia Universal has been the only lubricant on the market until now which can be used with fuel of ALL sulphur contents, meaning that the need to switch lubricants when moving in and out of an ECA is completely removed. This is exactly what today's industry wants - simple, smart operations.”

Lubmarine says the lubricant has been thoroughly tested having carried out a specific test with a MAN engine on a containership running continuously on a fuel containing less than 1 percent sulphur for 4,200 hours. MAN is said to have certified that the results were 'good'.

"It is believed that Talusia Universal is the only lubricant to have achieved a successful field test over more than 4,000 hours with an HFO containing less than 1 percent sulphur. Furthermore, this was achieved with a feed rate of 0.60 g/kWh, the lowest figure recommended by MAN. Lubmarine has countless hours of running-time experience with Talusia Universal, and numerous testimonies from satisfied customers," Lubmarine said.

Havil also outlined Lubmarine’s progress with the next incarnation of the new generation of lubricants, including a universal oil for the 2015 market that will give optimum assured performance from the highest sulphur content HFOs right down to less than 0.1 percent sulphur content fuels, and a range of biodegradable lubricants.