This month it has been interesting to see land-based issues reflected in the sea. No, I have not lapsed into a fantasy world – although recent back surgery has required significant quantities of industrial-strength painkillers – it is simply an observation that the challenges that have been facing automotive fuel and lubes manufacturers are also severely testing the marine sector.
Emissions and environmental regulation are largely at the core of these challenges. For the automotive sector, the lubricants producers are forging ever closer ties with the OEMs – such as ExxonMobil in Europe. These relationships are bringing significant expertise to bear on further enhancing engine performance, improving fuel economy and reducing CO2 emissions to meet legislative targets.
While the geographical boundaries may be slightly harder to identify, legislation across the world’s waterways is no less rigorous in its aim to protect the environment above and below the waterline. The first Emission Control Area (ECA), in the Baltic Sea, came into effect in 2006. Now, with four currently in force around European, North American and Caribbean waters, sulphur caps are set to be introduced next year for marine fuel.
The knock-on effect for lubricants manufacturers is clear: with new fuels comes new engine specifications and, thus, new lubricant needs. With the ECAs requiring slow steaming, further strains are put on moving parts, while storage, stability and monitoring of these lubes and fuels are also being put to the test.
In fact, it’s an exciting time not just for lubes producers themselves, but also for those creating the additives - the alchemy which helps transform base oil into high-performance lubricant. While the oil majors reported generally good figures for Q2 there were more mixed results for the additives producers in the short term. However, the future for the additives sector is certainly positive, with the market set to exceed $16bn within the next five years.
Throughout all of this, there will be an increased need for fast, accurate and accessible specification data for both the OEMs and the lubes producers. OATS is continuing to enhance its global databases as well as the channels to deliver the information. To find out more, or comment on anything you have read in this month's Bulletin, simply contact us by e-mail or follow our updates on social media via Twitter @Oats_Ltd, Facebook and LinkedIn.
Sebastian Crawshaw
Chairman, OATS