Chevron cylinder oil delivers efficiency gains for Susesea’s

Turkish shipowner Susesea has successfully revamped its cylinder lubrication strategy across its fleet of six bulk carriers by implementing Chevron’s Taro® Ultra Advanced 40 (TUA 40). This strategic move, developed in collaboration with Chevron Marine Lubricants and regional distributor Petrol Ofisi, has led to a significant reduction in cylinder oil feed rates by approximately 33%, enhancing both operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

Enhanced Efficiency and Simplified Operations

The fleet, consisting of six bulk carriers built in Japan and China, each with an average deadweight tonnage of 64,000, is powered by MAN Mark 9 engines. These two-stroke engines require high detergency lubrication to maintain cleanliness in piston and ring lands, especially when using very low sulfur fuels. Previously, Susesea’s engineers alternated between two types of lubricants—MAN Category I and Category II—following a complex schedule of three days on Taro Ultra 40 (Cat I) and one day on Taro Ultra 100 (Cat II).

By switching to a single Category II 40BN product, Susesea has simplified its onboard practices and improved procurement efficiency. Chevron’s TUA 40 has now become the lubricant of choice for all six vessels. “Upgrading to a single Taro 40 solution allows us to make large-scale purchases in strategic ports like Singapore, ensuring we have a full year’s supply on hand,” stated Mr. Bilge Kagan Dogan, Technical Manager at Susesea. He emphasized that the switch was motivated by two key advantages: enhanced cleaning performance compared to 100BN oils and a reduction in costs.

The implementation of TUA 40 has also involved close collaboration with Chevron and Petrol Ofisi, including scavenge port inspections and monitoring of iron content and base number retention onboard. Feed rates were systematically reduced in increments of 0.1 g/kWh, leading to all six vessels achieving a consistent operation rate of 0.8 g/kWh. This transition not only met Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) cleanliness targets but also improved the condition of piston rings and ring lands across the fleet.

Successful Partnership and Future Prospects

The successful transition to TUA 40 has simplified maintenance tasks for onboard crews and improved inventory management. With visual inspections indicating better scavenge cleanliness and liner condition, the shift has reduced complexity and minimized errors, ultimately supporting higher operational uptime.

Understanding Flettner Rotor Wind-Assisted Propulsion in the Marine Industry

Chevron’s support throughout this process included performance monitoring, crew training, and alignment of lubrication strategies with MAN Energy Solutions specifications. This partnership model reflects Chevron’s commitment to providing shipowners with compliant and effective solutions in an evolving regulatory landscape.

“It was a pleasure working with Susesea to facilitate their adoption of Taro Ultra Advanced 40,” remarked Georgia Chaloulou, Technical Field Specialist at Chevron Marine Lubricants. “By closely monitoring the results and collaborating at each step, we ensured a successful outcome.” Mr. Dogan expressed gratitude for Chaloulou’s guidance, noting her expertise was crucial in building confidence in the product.

The transition to Chevron’s TUA 40 demonstrates how modern lubrication solutions can help operators optimize their fleets while addressing the challenges of contemporary engine architecture and low sulfur fuel operations.