Shell ANALEXAlert could have saved Wan Hai Lines an estimated $80,000 in downtime and maintenance costs 

This container ship, with a MAN B&W K90 MC-C engine and an electronically controlled cylinder oil system was regularly using Shell ANALEXAlert and Shell RLA tests for cylinder drain oil analysis. The main engine cylinder drain oil showed an abnormal rise in iron levels in one of the units. This alerted the ship staff, and timely action was taken resulting in changing the piston rings of this unit.

Thorough investigation revealed that the vessel was using a cylinder feed rate that was well above the recommended OEM levels.  The ship sailed through tropical areas with high humidity and the presence of high moisture in the air may have caused disruption in the cylinder oil film resulting in severe scuffing and abrasive wear.

Regular monitoring by Shell ANALEXAlert, a key element of Shell Cylinder Condition Monitoring, helped the ship staff to prevent further damage to the engine, including replacement of liner, downtime and maintenance costs.


For a further case study detailing how Reederei Hermann Buss have used ANALEXAlert to optimise lubricant feed rate please click here.