Castrol launches biodegradable lubes

The new range of biodegradable hydraulic, stern tube, gear oils and greases are 100 times less toxic and 100% more biodegradable than conventional mineral oils and exceed the requirements of the US Environmental Protection Agency. This cuts the risk of environmental damage from accidental leakage, a routine occurrence in the maritime industry, particularly among older vessels.

“Using biodegradable oil provides a ‘failsafe’ solution for ship operators squeezed between the twin pressures of increasingly stringent legislation to protect the environment and operating realities,” David Gilmour, Castrol’s director marine lubricants, said. “Environmental legislation can only get tougher, but ships will still leak oil, this is the reality we are facing.

“Oil leakage can occur even on well maintained and managed ships. This is why we’ve focused on creating biodegradable oils for equipment where there is risk of accidental spillage or leakage to minimise environmental damage. We need to take a positive approach to avoid damaging the marine environment during operations.”