PANOLIN - Sustainable Lubricants Help Shipowners Meet EPA Regulations

December 2013 marks the renewal of the Environmental Protection Agency's Vessel General Permit (VGP) for commercial vessels, and implementation of the new Small Vessel General Permit (sVGP) for craft under 79 feet.  To help protect the nation's waters from ship-borne pollutants, the new regulations include updated conditions for mechanical systems that can potentially leak lubricants.  PANOLIN America offers environmentally considerate Greenmarine lubricants that are 100% VGP and sVGP compliant.

The new EPA standards require that vessel operators document their use of "environmentally acceptable lubricants" in all oil-to-sea interfaces in official reports.  This includes use in equipment and machinery such as stern tubes, thrusters, stabilizers, deck cranes, actuators and gear boxes, as well as wires and cables subject to immersion.

In fact, the permits' required reports specifically ask, "Did your vessel use environmentally acceptable lubricants for oil to sea interfaces?" and require the listing of the brand used.  According to EPA definitions, compliant lubricants are "biodegradable", "non-toxic" and are not "bioaccumulative".  This requirement applies unconditionally to vessels constructed on or after December 19, 2013, as well as to existing vessels unless technically infeasible to do so.  In such cases, documentation is required for reporting noncompliance.

Vessel owners and operators can easily comply with VGP and sVGP requirements for environmentally acceptable lubricants, at no extra cost over the time in use, and without sacrificing performance.  The PANOLIN Greenmarine line of environmentally considerate lubricants offers solutions for every part of a vessel.  Its range includes heavy-duty gear oil, production line control fluid and hydraulic fluids, as well as various lubricants for stern tubes, gear boxes and cables and sliding parts.

Readily biodegradable according to OECD 301B/ASTM D 5864, Greenmarine lubricants produce negligible toxicity to aquatic life.  PANOLIN's unique technology employs 100% saturated synthetic esters and special additives to create lubricants that produce no bioaccumulation.  All comply with VGP and sVGP requirements.

Ship owners will appreciate the fact PANOLIN Greenmarine products reduce CO2 emissions by decreasing the frequency of oil changes and enhancing machine operating efficiency.  Field tests document that these synthetic lubricants also have a much longer life than comparable mineral oil products.

The Greenmarine line is backed by PANOLIN's 25-year focus on producing economical, biodegradable and non-toxic lubricants, and more than 60 years of successful Swiss oil technology.  Additional information on the EPA's VGP and sVGP can be found at www.epa.gov/npdes/vessels.