Castrol to supply biolubes for Formosa’s new chemical carriers

Castrol Marine announced that it is supplying environmentally responsible lubricants to several new builds for Taiwanese petrochemical company Formosa Plastics Corp. (FPC). The agreements cover the use of Castrol BioBar, described as a high specification, environmentally responsible hydraulic oil, within the cargo pumping system of five chemical carriers under construction in Jinhae shipping yard, Korea, by STX Offshore & Shipping. The vessels are scheduled for completion in the second quarter and will join FPC’s existing fleet, transporting intermediate raw materials for plastics and diesel fuel between the U.S., Asia-Pacific and Taiwan. BioBar is claimed to offer reduced environmental impact when compared to conventional hydraulic fluids, with superior biodegradation and significantly reduced bioaccumulation and toxicity, minimizing its environmental impact where there is a risk of accidental spillage or leakage into marine water. (April 29, 2010)