ExxonMobil Marine: Imagining the Future of Lubrication

The development of new more environmentally-friendly engine designs is set to accelerate as the industry ramps up efforts to meet the IMO’s 2050 decarbonisation targets. ExxonMobil Marine notes that engines in the maritime sector will be powered by a range of alternative fuels, along with methanol, LPG and ammonia.

These engines will create additional demands for cylinder lubricant suppliers, with cylinder lubrication expected to reach a higher level of performance, in terms of viscosity, thermal stability and detergency. In addition, lubricant suppliers will need to supply products that are compatible with different fuel types. Fuel flexibility will create variations in lubrication requirements for the same engine, depending on the fuel used. This will compress lubricant product development cycles, and require lubricant manufacturers, OEMs and ship owners to work together more closely to meet the industry’s requirements.