Maersk Tankers orders lube oil blending system

The system was updated in the second half of 2015 and allows vessels to blend cylinder oil between BN30-140, dependent on fuel sulphur levels, by taking in-use system oil as a base. It is designed for medium-sized two-stroke engines with a cylinder bore of 420-680mm.

The twelve tankers on which the units will be retrofitted were delivered between 2005 and 2008, and comprise ten ships with WinGD/Wärtsilä RTA and RT-Flex engines and two with MAN Diesel & Turbo engines. Both engine designers have issues approvals or letters of no objection for the systems to be used with the relevant engines.

The retrofits will be made during 2016, with no disruption to the tankers’ schedules, and were ordered after a payback time of less than two years was established. The investment is returned by cylinder oil cost reductions as well as fuel savings, said Tommy Thomassen, chief technology officer of Maersk Tankers.

“The system is expected to facilitate up to a 40% reduction in lube-oil consumption, cleaner main engine system oil and fuel savings of at least 0.5% for both MAN Diesel & Turbo and WinGD/Wärtsilä two-stroke engines,” Thomassen noted. “Investing in BOB allows Maersk Tankers to stay flexible and ready for future lubrication challenges.”

The system enables further savings by requiring system oil to be kept fresh as old oil is used in the cylinder lube mix. According to Sune Lilbaek, head of sales and marketing, Maersk Fluid Technology the more optimal viscosity of the system oil facilitates fuel savings of up to 1.5%, as well as reducing purifier sludge.

Three of the vessels will also be equipped with the SEA-Mate B4000 analyzer, which monitors iron levels in the cylinder oil scrape-down.