Total Lubmarine has received a no objection letter from Winterthur Gas & Diesel (WinGD) for the use of its any-sulphur-fuel cylinder lubricant within the whole range of Wärtsilä engines.
The cylinder lubricant that received the no objection letter, the Talusia Optima, is a new lube oil that is compatible with all fuels ranging in sulphur content from 0 – 3.5%. It is the first of its kind that is able to lubricate engines operating with fuels with any sulphur content and marks a milestone in the industry as it will save ship operators from having to change cylinder oil lubricants when entering and existing Emission Control Areas (ECAs).
The oil uses ash-free neutralising molecules (ANM), which provide super-neutralisation, outstanding cylinder cleanliness and the potential to reduce feed rates.
It has been subject to over 4,400 hours of validation tests on a mega boxship and following engine inspections and oil analyses, the Talusia Optima was seen to perform satisfactorily meeting all Wärtsilä’s requirements.
According to Total Lubmarine, International Maritime Organization (IMO) emission regulations have driven the development of this technology. Serge Dal Farra, Total Lubmarine’s global marketing manager, commented: “Research carried out with our customers indicated their need for a simple, flexible product to counter the complexity of shipping operations in the current regulatory environment. Not only does Talusia Optima simplify engine lubrication for engineers, but used in conjunction with a well monitored feed rate reduction programme, offers potential savings.”
At the current time, Talusia Optima is being tested on a range of ships and has been given WinGD approval for use with its Wärtsilä RTA, RT-flex and X engines as well as in Sulzer 2-stroke.
It is expected to be brought into the market later in 2016.
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