Susesea Bulk Carrier Fleet Cuts Cylinder Oil Feed by 33% with Chevron’s Taro Ultra 40

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Turkish bulk carrier operator Susesea has streamlined engine lubrication across its fleet by switching to Chevron’s Taro® Ultra Advanced 40, cutting cylinder oil feed rates by about one-third and simplifying operations.

Susesea, the Istanbul-based shipowner operating six bulk carriers averaging 64,000 DWT each, has upgraded its cylinder lubrication strategy by adopting Chevron’s Taro Ultra Advanced 40 (TUA 40), a Category II 40 Base Number (BN) marine cylinder oil. The switch has led to a 33% reduction in feed rates, simplified onboard practices, and improved long-term maintenance scheduling.

Working closely with Chevron Marine Lubricants and its regional distributor Petrol Ofisi, Susesea rolled out the new lubrication approach across its Japanese- and Chinese-built fleet, all powered by MAN Mark 9 two-stroke engines. These engines are known to require high-detergency oils to maintain piston and ring land cleanliness, especially when operating with very low sulfur fuel oils (VLSFO).

Previously, Susesea engineers alternated between Category I and Category II lubricants in a four-day cycle—three days on Taro Ultra 40 (Cat I) and one day on Taro Ultra 100 (Cat II)—to meet the OEM’s cleaning requirements. While effective, the system was operationally complex and harder to scale efficiently.

By transitioning to a single Category II 40BN product, the technical team has reduced complexity onboard, streamlined procurement, and supported more agile maintenance planning.

“Upgrading to a single Taro 40 solution means that we can now complete large-scale purchases in strategic ports like Singapore and carry a full year’s supply. That has proven to be extremely efficient for our operations,” said Mr. Bilge Kagan Dogan, Technical Manager at Susesea.

Mr. Dogan added that the decision was driven by both technical and commercial factors: “We initially decided to switch to Chevron Cat II 40BN cylinder oil based on two main advantages: improved cleaning performance compared to 100BN oils, and cost reduction. Altogether, Cat II 40BN oil has delivered great value for performance.”

Taro Ultra Advanced 40 is approved by MAN Energy Solutions for use in modern two-stroke engines operating on VLSFO. It supports low feed rates while maintaining cleanliness standards. As part of the transition, Susesea partnered with Chevron and Petrol Ofisi to conduct scavenge port inspections and monitor iron content and BN retention across all vessels.

Feed rates were methodically reduced in 0.1 g/kWh steps, with each vessel ultimately reaching consistent operation at 0.8 g/kWh—while still meeting OEM cleanliness targets. Chevron’s technical team confirmed improved piston ring and ring land conditions and noted a reduction in deposits during inspections.

The simplified approach has also eased daily operational demands for the crew. Inventory management is now more predictable, and fewer onboard errors are occurring thanks to the streamlined lubrication system.

Chevron Marine Lubricants’ support was integral throughout the process. Their technical team, led by Georgia Chaloulou, worked closely with Susesea to monitor engine performance and ensure alignment with OEM guidelines.

“It was a pleasure working with Susesea to support their adoption of Taro Ultra Advanced 40,” said Georgia Chaloulou, Technical Field Specialist at Chevron Marine Lubricants. “By closely monitoring the results and managing each step together, we helped ensure a successful outcome. Chevron is committed to providing practical, data-driven lubrication solutions tailored to each customer’s operational needs.”

Mr. Dogan acknowledged Chaloulou’s contribution: “We are grateful for the guidance from Georgia Chaloulou, who supported us throughout the process. Her expertise was instrumental in giving us confidence in the product.”

The transition underscores a growing trend among technically driven operators to simplify from multi-oil systems to single-lubricant solutions. In doing so, companies like Susesea are achieving tighter control over procurement and logistics while reducing cylinder oil consumption, emissions, and overall maintenance burden.