Lube-Tech PUBLISHED BY LUBE: THE EUROPEAN LUBRICANTS INDUSTRY MAGAZINE


Effluents that include lubricants are those used on a ship in any of the following areas: Controllable Pitch Propeller and Thruster Hydraulic Fluid and other Oil Sea Interfaces including Lubrication Discharges from Paddle Wheel Propulsion, Stern Tubes, Thruster Bearings, Stabilizers, Rudder Bearings, Azimuth Thrusters, and Propulsion Pod Lubrication, and Wire Rope and Mechanical Equipment Subject to Immersion.


Example: Formulating Wire Rope Grease: VGP specifically targets wire ropes and equipment that are subject to immersion in water. As a result the vessel operators would need to either reduce or modify the use of lubricants that are considered bio-accumulative or resort to using biobased and no-bio accumulative lubricants. Both authors represent companies that manufacture and sell wire rope lubricants. While the use of wire rope lubricants extends beyond VGP to mining, forestry, construction and other applications, the focus of this article is the VGP use.


Wire rope lubricants, either in liquid or in grease form, can be applied in several ways including manually. But, there are many pumping systems that make the process more automated and effective. Figure 4 shows a schematic of a lubricator for applying oil to the rope.


Table 2. Typical properties of a wire rope grease


Thanks to advances in the biobased lubricant technologies, today the cost of biobased greases are approaching parity with conventional type wire rope greases. This means that vessel operators now have options available to them to use non-bio- accumulative lubricants on the vessel wire ropes.


Conclusion The Vessel General Permit requirements as required by the US Environmental Protection Agency, has created a new impetus for rethinking the use of conventional wire rope lubricants. Since, the ruling involves ships from all countries when navigating in US waters, the ramification of this requirement extends beyond the United States. There has been significant progress in developing products that are non-bioaccumulative and would meet the VGP requirements. More importantly, the VGP requirements could lead to development of other lubricant and grease products that would be environment friendly.


References


1. Downloaded 14 Aug 2015 http://www.gabaswire.com/en/overview/manufacturing-process.html


2. Downloaded 14 Aug 2015 http://www.gabaswire.com/en/overview/manufacturing-process.html


Figure 4. Schematic of a Lubricator Design (above) 4; and a Commercial Rope Lubricator (Courtesy Viper WRL Pty Ltd)


The grease or lubricant used near or around water would require specific properties particularly for protecting against rust and corrosion in salt water as well as resistance to water washout. Some of the properties correspond to those used in the food processing industry; where pressure washers are used to wash equipment thus exposing the grease to water washout conditions. As a result, food-grade type aluminum complex


3. Downloaded 14 Aug 2015 http://www.google.co.jp/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&ved=0C- CQQFjABahUKEwjPqb2jy6jHAhWBmpQKHZLxBaU&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwater. epa.gov%2Fpolwaste%2Fnpdes%2Fvessels%2Fupload%2Fvgp_permit2013. pdf&ei=3eDNVY_HLIG10gSS45eoCg&usg=AFQjCNEyByWfgFlAXbHGpVmSSWD- J8D4fdw&sig2=nX4-inlQhyVjc9_pv8aEjQ


LINKS www.elmusa.com www.lelubricants.com


LUBE MAGAZINE NO.130 DECEMBER 2015 35


No.101 page 4


greases are often used for wire rope grease applications although lithium and calcium versions as well as some non-soap organo- clay type greases are also found on the market. Since, the grease needs to be pumped on to the wire rope, some of the wire rope greases found on the market seems to range in consistency from NLGI Grade #00 to Grade #1. The Grade #1 greases being for use in hotter climates. The following tables show typical properties of a mineral oil based and a biobased wire rope grease.


Table 1. Typical properties of a biobased wire rope grease that meets VGP requirements


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