Fuels / Lubricants Shell adds to its LubeMonitor service Shell Marine has deployed a suite of enhancements to its LubeMonitor service, to go beyond all other traditional ‘cylinder condition monitoring’ programmes and position itself as the go-to place for all your engine monitoring needs. By surfacing a wider range of technical and operational insights, Shell LubeMonitor lets users better understand their ship’s engine performance, ensure it is operating in line with OEM recommendations and ultimately, help reduce maintenance costs. While its features have become more sophisticated, Shell LubeMonitor’s user interface and reports are now simpler and aimed to deliver what users need most. Amongst its new features: • Enhanced fleet and vessel insights that go beyond traditional reporting - allowing users to compare vessels from fleet level all the way down to its cylinders – all organised in an easy-to-read manner (benefitting both onand offshore users) • A step-by-step guide for on-board engineers who can help standardise the inspection process • A comprehensive engine inspection feature which allows inclusion of recorded measurements of piston ring clearance, piston ring coating, and liner wear. All data can be stored and organised with the photos captured, so users can come back to them at any point in time • Integration with the Shell LubeAnalyst oil condition monitoring, hence becoming a one-stop platform to easily compare all oil analysis results for the engine • Available via the internet, iOS and Android operating systems, as well as an offline logbook regardless of connectivity at sea Gareth Lowe, Technical Product Manager for LubeMonitor at Shell Marine said, “Our goal goes beyond just making the programme an easy-to-use central data repository. By surfacing relevant information from on-board data, running parameters, lab data and inspection photos all from within LubeMonitor, we can start to deliver vital insights. This provides customers with a comprehensive picture of their engine’s health, and they can then use this information to make informed decisions on feed rates and maintenance schedules, which can help maintain optimal engine performance and lower operating costs.” Marcus Schaerer, General Manager Services and Technical at Shell Marine said, “We always strive to do more for our customers and are pleased to bring about pioneering features in vessel monitoring solutions.” The enhanced Shell LubeMonitor has since been rolled out to over 300 ships and has received positive feedback. According to Jong Hyun, Superintendent of Sinokor Ship Management, “In the past, we spent a great deal of time reading and comparing reports. Ever since adopting Shell LubeMonitor, it’s a welcomed change to having all our two-stroke engine monitoring needs on an intuitive, single platform. This allows us less time fussing over maintenance needs and more time to concentrate on other areas of the vessel.”
New partnership for VPS and BunkerTrace Veritas Petroleum Services (VPS) and BunkerTrace have announced a
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Shell Marine has deployed a suite of enhancements to its LubeMonitor service
new strategic partnership. This partnership will see VPS bring to market BunkerTrace’s ground-breaking, innovative forensic technology – starting with the launch of its Sample Assurance product. The agreement represents a significant step for the improvement in traceability and transparency across the global marine fuel sector. As such, VPS will now provide a variety of new services to its customers – powered by BunkerTrace’s ground-breaking blockchain and synthetic DNA technology. As these new services are rolled out, they will allow for greater efficiency across the bunkering supply chain, peace of mind in ensuring customer compliance, drastically reduce the risk of delays and disputes, support ESG objectives, and protect customers’ reputation. BunkerTrace’s Sample Assurance product is a tamper-proof embedded seal which is added to the sample cubitainer during a VPS Bunker Quantity Survey. Using the BunkerTrace mobile app, VPS surveyors digitally record the event to prove sample provenance and integrity. In the event of a dispute, the seals carry a unique code, only detectable with a BunkerTrace detection unit in a VPS lab where the sample will be checked for integrity. Physically tagging and digitally tracing the collected samples prevents contamination and tampering, assuring the quality of the samples as evidence. This enables a clear chain of custody and conclusive evidence to authenticate representative fuel samples. Steve Bee, Group Commercial & Business Development Director VPS, commented, “The shipping industry, like every other sector, is in the midst of a digital transformation. On top of that, there are also increasing demands for improved governance and greater transparency. In partnering with BunkerTrace, VPS is able to meet both those demands head on leading the transition on the global marine fuel market into an age of more assurance, trust and transparency.” Deanna MacDonald, Co-founder & CEO of BunkerTrace, commented, “BunkerTrace’s technology is genuinely ground-breaking in terms of its ability to physically tag and digitally trace marine fuel samples – underpinned by innovative blockchain and synthetic DNA technologies. What we needed was a partner that understands the growing need and demand for digital tracing and tracking services, but also has global reach, and shared ideals. In VPS we have found that, and we’re excited to see where we can take this partnership.”
