Gazpromneft – Lubricants, Ltd., the oil business operator of Gazprom Neft, has entered into an agreement with Sovcomflot for the supply of marine oils and service fluids. As part of the new agreement, Sovcomflot’s Arctic tankers will be supplied with engine, gear, compressor, turbine oils and lubricants. Additionally, Gazpromneft – Lubricants’ staff will provide the necessary maintenance services, Sovcomflot says in a press release.
Motor oils supplied for tankers enable the efficient operation of marine engines under high loads, which is typical requirement for operations in the Arctic region. They are suitable for two- and four-stroke engines operating on fuels with a sulphur content of <0.5% to 4%.
The gear, compressor, turbine oils and lubricants have proven suitable for use in the harsh conditions of the Arctic and the Far East, where vessels navigate in temperatures down to -45°C. To verify the operating parameters and specifications of the lubricants during operations, samples of implement oils are tested by international independent laboratories. The test results are available online and contain complete information on the change of state of such oils. Moreover, the express laboratories utilised enable basic tests to be carried out immediately aboard the vessel and, if necessary, to adjust marine machinery maintenance schedules on-the-fly.
Roman Miroshnichenko, Director of the St. Petersburg branch of Gazpromneft – Lubricants, Ltd. commented: “Regular transportation along the Northern Sea Route is becoming ever more relevant, so it is extremely important to ensure the reliable operation of Arctic fleet vessels. Our marine oils have shown great performance under high loads and extremely low temperatures, while our extensive lubricant supply logistics enables us to supply vessels in the country’s remotest regions.”
Igor Tonkovidov, First Deputy General Director – Chief Engineer of PAO Sovcomflot, said: “The signed agreement represents a natural step forward in the long-term mutually beneficial cooperation between Gazprom Neft PJSC and PAO Sovcomflot. The operation of maritime transport in high latitudes involves increased loads on ship machinery, which depends upon reliable and high-quality maintenance for its uninterrupted operation.”
Gazpromneft – Lubricants (Gazpromneft – Lubricants, Ltd.) is a subsidiary of Gazprom Neft, created in 2007 and specialising in the production and sales of oils, lubricants and service fluids. The company currently operates six industrial sites in Russia, Italy and Serbia with a total output of 600,000 tonnes of high-quality oils, lubricants and service fluids per year. The management system of Gazpromneft – Lubricants, Ltd. and its business assets conform to international standards ISO 9001, ISO 14001, IATF 16949, and OHSAS 18001. The company’s product range includes 600 types of oils and lubricants for all market segments (more than 1,500 commodity items), including marine lubricants under its private label Gazpromneft Ocean. The company’s marine lubricant product portfolio includes modern motor oils for high, medium and low speed engines operating on various marine fuels, as well as compressor, gear, hydraulic, turbine, transmission oils, lubricants and coolants. The company’s oils are approved by top equipment manufacturers, including Wärtsilä, Winterthur Gas & Diesel, MAN Diesel & Turbo, Sulzer, Bosch Rextroth, Siemens, Pleidger, Alfa-laval, GEA Westfalia, and Schottel, and have successfully passed many industrial tests, including Denison HF-0, Cincinnati P-68/69/70, and Eaton Vickers. Marine lubricants produced by the company are available in 29 major Russian and international ports.
Sovcomflot (SCF Group) is one of the world's leading energy shipping companies, specialising in the transportation of crude oil, petroleum products, and liquefied gas, as well as the servicing of offshore oil and gas exploration and production. The company’s fleet includes 145 vessels with a total deadweight of 12.6 million tonnes. 80 vessels have an ice class.
Sovcomflot is involved in servicing large oil and gas projects in Russia and around the world: Sakhalin-1; Sakhalin-2; Varandey; Prirazlomnoye; Novy Port; Yamal LNG, and Tangguh (Indonesia). The company is headquartered in Saint Petersburg, with offices in Moscow, Novorossiysk, Murmansk, Vladivostok, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, London, Limassol, and Dubai.