Abstract
From 2010 reduced load operation has become increasingly common amongst ship owners and operators trying to reduce fuel consumption during a period of depressed freight rates. This practice has become widespread across many industry sectors and steady reductions in load have been seen such that operating on 15-30% load is being regularly seen and continued operating at 40-60% load or lower has become standard practice in some companies. This paper aims to explore the impacts of this reduced load operation on the lubrication of Cross Head engines and explain why changes in lubricants or lubricant feed rate have become necessary in order for vessels to operate at these lower loads without risk of corrosive wear damage to cylinder liners and piston rings.
