Single oil for high and low sulphur heavy fuels
Total Lubmarine claims to have the only lubricant product in the market that can operate successfully for HFO at sulphur contents ranging below 1% and above 4%.
Following the ECA sulphur limit reduction from 1.5% to 1%, Total says that shipowners are faced with not only fuel switching difficulties but the additional need for lubricant switching as they move in and out of the ECA.
Although it was possible to operate using traditional 70 BN lubricants at sulphur levels of 1.5% and above, engine designers’ guidelines state that lower base number lubricants must be used with fuels containing under 1% sulphur in order to prevent excess deposits and engine wear and scuffing. The solution offered by most major lubricant suppliers is the use of two different lube oils according to the sulphur content of the fuel being burnt by the vessel. For ship operators this gives rise to a host of complex operational issues not least additional storage capacity, crew training and on-board procedure requirements.
Total Lubmarine says, though, that its patented Talusia Universal has been approved by all OEMs for use with high and low sulphur content HFO. The oil is claimed to offer a one-stop solution, providing cost, efficiency and safety benefits through elimination of the risk of engine damage from mismatch between different cylinder oils. Unlike other lubricant solutions, it is said to require no deviation from usual operations.
Total marketing manager Patrick Havil says: “Talusia Universal sales have increased by 90% this year alone. Now, one in every two of our customers uses Talusia Universal. It is used by all types of vessels, including cargo ships, tankers, container vessels, and ro-ros.”
Total is expecting this cylinder oil will become the reference in the market. One of Lubmarine‘s largest shipowner customers commented “Talusia Universal is unique. No other major oil company has produced a comparable product. If I were one of Lubmarine's competitors I would be looking to get a similar product into the international market as soon as possible.”
