US requires greener lubes

摘要

As well as enforcing stricter Ballast Water Treatment regulations (see earlier article), the USCG has this year issued new Vessel General Permit legislation governing inter alia the hitherto unregulated use of lubricants in oil-to-sea surfaces. The VGP, which comes into effect on December 19 this year, states that henceforth all newbuilding vessels must use environmentally acceptable lubricant in all oil-to-sea surfaces, such as wire ropes, bow thrusters, rudder bearings and stern tubes. For existing vessels, the VGP dictates that operators must use environmentally acceptable lubricant in US waters unless 'technically infeasible.'