Chevron Customer Benefit Story 8 - tallink’s tale of LNG transformation

customer benefit study

chevron marine lubricants | AS tallink grupp

tallink’s tale of LNG transformation

The choices facing ship owners opting to use LNG are not always
complicated. But getting it right remains critical. Nowhere is this more
evident than on Estonian ferry operator AS Tallink Grupp’s fast link

between Tallinn and the Finnish capital of Helsinki.

 

Situation

In 2017, AS Tallink Grupp took delivery of its first LNG-fueled ferry, Megastar, from Meyer Turku. For Tallink procurement manager Raivo Veskus, the company’s decision to turn to LNG was driven by its strategy of environmental responsibility.

“The Baltic is a small sea and we are trying to play our part in keeping it clean,” he says. “LNG offers high environmental benefits, with zero sulphur and particulate matter, around 25 percent less CO2 and virtually no NOx emissions.”

The 2,800-capacity ferry is charged with making the two-hour sailing across the Gulf of FInland six times a day. Delivering nearly 18,000 people daily between these two highly interconnected hubs makes a smooth operation crucial.

The Importance of Reliability

“On such a busy service it is very important that we stick to schedule,” says Raivo Veskus. “We can’t afford to have reliability concerns.”

Chevron is proud to play its part in ensuring that reliability. Through local distributor Lubtec, the company supplies Megastar with its
low-ash trunk piston engine oil designed specifically for gas engines, Chevron Marine Lubricants’ HDAX 5200. The lubricant ensures that the five Wärtsilä medium-speed, dual-fuel engines are protected and in good condition.

“Wärtsilä told us which oils were approved for these engines, and we were very happy when our choice of supplier was the same as the shipyard’s,” says Raivo Veskus. “We are satisfied not only with the quality of the Chevron product but also with the service from local distributor Lubtec. Service is especially important for ships that stay for only a short time at the dock.”

Chevron Marine Lubricants’ HDAX 5200 is designed for engines operating continuously on LNG. This fits neatly with Megastar’s fixed operating routine—the vessel runs only on LNG (and up to 5 percent marine diesel oil as pilot fuel) and is refueled by truck every night in Tallinn.

“The Baltic is a small sea and
we are trying to play our part
in keeping it clean.”

Raivo Veskus, Procurement Manager, AS Tallink Grupp

“Wärtsilä told us which oils were approved for these engines, and we were
very happy when our choice of supplier was the same as the shipyard’s.”

Raivo Veskus, Procurement Manager, AS Tallink Grupp

On such a new vessel, it is important to check that engines are getting the protection they need. Tallink uses Chevron’s FASTTM analysis to check that lubrication is correct, and that no engine condition issues are emerging. Engineering staff send oil samples to Chevron’s laboratories for testing regularly, showing excellent performance characteristics.

Conclusion

Tallink’s early operations on LNG are encouraging, and the company is already preparing for the next steps. A dedicated LNG bunkering vessel will be delivered soon, and in 2022 Tallink hopes to take delivery of a second LNG-fueled ferry— a sister ship to Megastar. The developments mark another milestone for LNG’s rise as a marine fuel, and show once more why Chevron is building its range, its service offer, and its expertise to cater for gas-fueled engines.

 

FAST analysis can help protect your vessels vital assets and
optimise the performance of on-board equipment.

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