Shell unveils new lubricant for ECA-bound vessels

The Alexia S3 lubricant is the latest in Shell’s extensive range of Alexia two-stroke engine oils, and is designed for use with low sulphur and distillate fuels with up to 0.5% sulphur.

“The introuction of Shell Alexia S3 completes our portfolio, ensuring that all our customers will have the right lubricant suitable for their shipping needs,” said Surinderdeep Singh, general manager, Shell Marine Products.

Shell says it developed the solution based on customers’ concerns over the new ECA regulations, equipment reliability and cold corrosion.

While the upcoming regulations will only apply in the Baltic Sea, North Sea, North America and US Caribbean Sea, there have been talks to expand them into the entire Atlantic seaboard of Europe, the Mediterranean Sea, coastal Korea, the Sea of Japan, the Australian coast, the shipping lanes of Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia, as well as coastal China.

At the launch, Shell said it had these possibilities in mind when developing the lubricant, ensuring there is a solution for those vessels constantly using ECAs and those which are coming into ECAs and therefore switching fuel and lubrication.

Shell also offers Shell Gadinia for medium-speed four-stroke engines and Shell Mysella, used in vessels with gas-powered engines such as Shell’s chartered barge, Greenstream, which the company says is the world’s first fully LNG-powered barge.

The solution will be available to customers from December in major ports across Shell’s network of more than 500 ports in over 40 countries.