Vickers bio-lubes meet EAL requirements

From 19 December 2013 the permit requires ships entering US waters to use biological lubricants in order to minimise effects of routine and accidental discharges. All vessel owner/operators are to use ‘environmentally acceptable lubricants (EALs) for oil-to-sea interfaces unless technically infeasible.’

The applications covered by the VGP, which will be regulated by the US Coast Guard, include controllable pitch propellers; thruster hydraulic fluids and other oil-to-sea Interfaces including – lubrication discharges from: paddle wheel propulsion; stern tubes; thruster bearings; stabilisers; rudder bearings; azimuth thrusters; propulsion pod lubrication; wire rope and mechanical equipment subject to immersion.

Vickers’ range of Environmentally Acceptable Lubricants (EALs) includes: HYDROX BIO, ECOSURE HSE and BIOGREASE EP2.

Vickers Oils has supplied more than 1,400 vessels over the last 15 years and has approvals for its EALs from many of the relevant equipment manufacturers. Stocks are carried in ports around the world.