With over 140 years of experience in marine lubricants, Chevron Marine Lubricants continues to expand its supply network and is well positioned to deliver solutions for a shipping sector moving toward a lower carbon future.

Ayten Yavuz, Regional Manager North West Europe & Americas, Chevron Marine Lubricants and Robert Wolf, Sales Manager Europe, Chevron Renewable Energy Group met with Robban Assafina’s team at Norshipping 2023 for a quick catch up on the company’s latest.

We would like to introduce our readers to Chevron Marine Lubricants.
Yavuz: We are a global marine lubricant supplier with dedicated hubs in over three regions, I am based in Belgium covering North West Europe & the Americas. We have a regional manager and a sales team in Athens for the Mediterranean, Middle East and North Africa region, as well as a regional manager for Asia Pacific based in Singapore.

Through the sales teams in those three regions, we cover the shipping industry in our respective areas, working very closely together to serve clients around the globe. It is a global business supporting the global shipping industry.

Can you tell us more about Chevron’s ULTRA 40 in light of the category II approvals?
Yavuz: When Man Energy Solutions launched the Tier II performance level for cylinder oils, we set out to develop a product to meet the requirements of the category II cylinder oils. We already had the Taro® Ultra 100 and 140, both of which are category II approved cylinder oils, however we wanted a 40 BN cylinder oil to match the category II approval requirements.So in April 2022, we received a Category II NOL for our Taro Ultra Advanced 40 from MAN Energy Solutions, and within four months we were able to make the first supply which was ahead of schedule.

At this moment, we are supplying in a large number of ports, but our main intention is to follow the requirements of the markets, as ships move to Taro Ultra Advanced 40, we will expand it into other ports with an aim to have a global footprint for this product.

We continue to offer a flexible range of lubricants that work with different fuels and engines, in different operational conditions. Chevron’s goal is to keep our customers’ vessels on course while providing the suitable solutions for their journey. 

How do you evaluate Chevron’s energy transition strategy?
Yavuz: Chevron is advancing to a lower-carbon future by reducing the carbon intensity of our operations and increasing the use of renewables and offsets. We have increased our low carbon capital investments and ambitions to support our energy transition goals. By 2028, we expect our lower carbon capital to more than triple versus the prior guidance to over $10M. 

In support of our energy transition initiatives, Chevron New Energies business unit was launched in July 2021, with the aim to accelerate the energy transition by growing lower carbon businesses. Chevron New Energies brings a team of dedicated support to create innovative solutions complementary to our strong oil and gas business, leveraging Chevron’s capabilities, assets and customers. 

What about the industry’s readiness for the future?
Wolf: Chevron acquired US based Renewable Energy Group in June 2022. This acquisition makes Chevron a leading renewable fuels producer in biodiesel and renewable diesel. The marine industry is yet to define what ‘the future fuel’ will be, probably it is a fuel mix future, and there will be room for fuels like marine gasoil (MGO), together with biofuels which are readily available in large ports around the world. Biofuels have been tested in many different ranges and have the advantage to cater to the current infrastructure. 

So, I would say that biofuels are there to stay as a future fuel, and Chevron is also looking into other fuels like Ammonia and Methanol. There are still a lot of developments to take place; the good thing is that most of these fuels and lubricants are already available. Whatever the industry decides about the future fuel, Chevron will be ready.

Yavuz: We work very closely with engine manufacturers, suppliers, shipping companies, to look at different options and know where we can be supportive. From a lubricant side, we have the solutions to whatever those future fuels might be.

Robban Assafina Magazine, Issue 85, Jul./Aug. 2023, Maritime Host, pg. 86

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	Issue 86 of Robban Assafina (Jul./ Aug. 2023)