18OCT2019 - NEWS - Castrol - Continous change is new normal

Lubricants supplier Castrol says the shipping industry should expect a period of “new normal” where continuous change in environmental compliance standards is driven by regulation, adding layers of technical complexity for owners and operators.

With shipping currently preparing for the IMO 2020 global sulfur cap, Castrol says that, as the sector examines its current and future fuel choices, there needs to be an understanding that fuels and lubricants are intrinsically linked. Failure to consult and work in partnership with engine manufacturers, fuels and lubricant suppliers could lead to unintended consequences. Shipping operators should consider technical changes within the engine room in terms of training, hardware, and software, as well as fuels and lubricant procurement and application, with new pressures causing more operational strain on crews and vessels.

Impending NOx and decarbonization regulations mean that 2020 is only one step to meet a flurry of new environmental compliance standards.