It’s true that a shift toward more sustainable fuels has begun. Approximately 16% of new vessels on order can run on alternative fuels including LNG, methanol, LPG, hydrogen and ammonia, and that portion is expected to continue growing. Vessels have expected life spans of 20 to 30 years, though, so change will not come fast. The majority of the world’s shipping fleet seems likely be using the current conventional fuels, including LNG, well into the 2040s.

This points to the fact that future demand for conventional and LNG fuels will be significant for some time to come, which will be reflected in demand for marine lubricants that meet the operational parameters of these engines into the foreseeable future.

Today, lubricant manufacturers like ourselves are simultaneously working on developing improved lubricants for existing mature fuel solutions – conventional and LNG fuels – whilst also developing new lubricants to meet the needs of future fuels including bio fuels, e-fuels, methanol and amonia.

That’s because the primary drivers for lubricants are ever-changing in line with engine designers and manufacturers who are striving for further performance improvements that can help deliver increased fuel economy and emissions reductions in today’s engines.

The result is that new engine designs are placing increased demands on lubricants and their performance capabilities in a range of ways including:
• increased temperatures and pressures in the engine;
• compatibility with exhaust gas recirculation systems;
• compatibility with exhaust after treatment.

As a result, we are seeking to deliver performance improvements to today’s lubricants in areas such as:
• detergency;
• thermal stability;
• oxidation resistance.

New Engine Designs and Cylinder Oil Specifications

 Demands placed on cylinder lubricants by today’s engines mean that we must pay special attention to the key areas of the combustion chamber, the ring pack, the exhaust valve and especially the piston top land and top ring area.

For this we are focusing on low ash formulations for deposit control and high detergency.

We also need to look at key operational drivers including:
• fuel efficiency;
• emissions control;
• lower carbon footprint;
• better reliability.

The importance of good piston ring cleanliness cannot be overstated. This has been seen through the more recent Man Category II cylinder oils introduced to the market.

In addition to the need for improved lubricant performance, new health, safety and environmental regulations could limit the use of some chemical components that traditionally have been used in marine lubricants, creating the need for new components and formulations to be identified, tested and utilised within marine lubricants – something our research and development teams are continuously working on. The technologies being developed will allow formulators to develop lubricant formulations that improve energy efficiency and the cleanliness of today’s marine engines operating on conventional fuels, whilst contributing to reduced emissions.

Developing new lubricants with a range of performance benefits

One example of the work we have done through our research center is the development of an experimental and groundbreaking new four-stroke “fuel economy lubricant” that has already yielded significant fuel savings during yearlong sea trials. This lubricant – planned for engine maker approvals in 2025 – has been derived following significant research and development at TotalEnergies. The result is lubrication performance that reduces engine friction and in doing so reduces fuel consumption by up to 4%, depending on operating conditions.

The benefits to the user beyond engine lubrication performance includes significant cost savings and energy efficiency for four-stroke vessel operators, particularly across the cruise, ferry, off-shore and powerplant sectors.

This is a real breakthrough and innovation in four-stroke trunk piston engine oils. Through this new lubricant we can now have a positive impact on fuel economy, and therefore carbon dioxide emissions, which will ultimately support the move towards future IMO regulations on greenhouse gas emissions.

Tomorrow’s multiple fuel solutions will undoubtedly be built on the learning and development that is taking place in today’s shipping market – including the effective lubrication of marine engines.

There will not be a future moment when there is a universal switch over to new fuels and new engines, rather a transition through sustained evolution. For the lubricant industry, that requires continued development of innovative lubrication solutions that deliver effective engine lubrication performance today, building towards tomorrow.   

Olivier Denizart Olivier Denizart is technical manager for Lubmarine, a division of TotalEnergies.