Castrol in cyberspace

Castrol has introduced an Internet based raft of services for shipowners in the form of its Marine Lubricants Information Network (Marlin) and Fluid Management system.

Marlin users can review their oil consumption spend by vessel and will be notified by e-mail when their fleet information is updated (such as new analysis results). There is a £5,000 ($7,880) setting-up fee and a £1,000 ($1,580) annual maintenance charge. The benefits are said to be a reduction in paperwork, easier budgeting and the ability to compare vessels.

In the Fluid Management System, the volumes of individual lubricants remaining in the vessels` stores can be tracked and ordered directly from the computer. It calculates whether lubricant has to be taken on board in the first port or if there is enough left on board to reach the next destination.

As the system has the cost of each product in each port (and fleet contract details), it can calculate in which port it will be cheapest to take on fresh lubricant supplies. There is a set-up fee depending on the number of modules.