Group II marine lube gets engine maker approval: Resend

Resends story from 25 March to clarify engine-type compatibility in third paragraph

Total Lubmarine's Group II based, low-sulphur marine lubricant has been approved by ship engine maker Winterthur Gas and Diesel (WinGD).

Talusia Universal Base Number 57 (BN 57) has also been approved by major ship engine manufacturers MAN Energy Solutions, Wartsila and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.

The lubricant is designed for 2-stroke engines and is compatible with marine fuels with less than 1.5pc sulphur, which includes the 0.5pc sulphur fuels compliant with the IMO's global sulphur cap.

The lubricant "has been developed with the most available base oils on the market in mind, and critically to enhance performance given the product's cleaning ability", Total said.

Marine lubricants have traditionally been formulated with Group I base oils, for their higher solvating properties and lower cost. Marine lubricants compatible with HSFO have a higher BN to neutralise corrosive acids formed in an engine's combustion chamber. Group I solvency allowed more basic additives to dissolve in lubricant and protect engine components. Increased use of low-sulphur fuels means reduced acid formation and requirement for solvency, opening up the marine sector for Group II use.

Rising global Group II base oil capacity is also providing greater availability of the premium oil and adding downward pressure to prices. The combination of lower BN requirements following the IMO sulphur cap implementation, increasing global availability of Group II and lower prices is opening up Group II applications in the marine sector.

Total forecast a year ago that lower BN lubricants — BN25 to BN60 — would make up 88pc of its sales in 2020. By comparison, sales of higher BN lubricants — BN70 to BN140 — would account for only 12pc in 2020, with lower demand for high-sulphur fuel oil a limiting factor.

Other major marine lube blenders including Shell and Chevron also offer marine lubricants formulated using Group II base oils.

By Catherine Caulfield and Erik Hoffmann