Lubricant receives EU Ecolabel licence

Paul Boughton

ROCOL has been awarded an EU Ecolabel licence (Licence no. UK/27/013) for Biogen Wireshield that independently certifies that the wire rope and ROV umbilical lubricant meets the stringent requirements of the US VGP regulations.

The lubricant enables the marine and offshore industries to meet much stricter environmental safety requirements without compromising on day-to-day operational performance.

Biogen Wireshield successfully addresses the dual challenge for lubricants used in marine environments to be environmentally considerate and function to a high standard in the most demanding operating conditions.
Gareth Procter from ROCOL explains why there has never been a greater need to choose EALs for wire ropes and ROV umbilicals:

“Changes to the requirements set-out by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) almost 12 months ago are acting as the catalyst for adopting a new regime worldwide involving only ecologically safe lubricants throughout marine operations. The revised VGP (Vessel General Permit) requirements published by the EPA, which came into force in December 2013, force marine and offshore operators in US waters to use only Environmentally Acceptable Lubricants in all oil-to-sea interfaces from their next dry dock onwards. To meet the stringent European Ecolabel testing requirements and be certified as an Environmentally Acceptable Lubricant, products used on wire ropes must be minimally toxic, biodegradable and non-bio accumulative – all without compromising on important performance characteristics such as corrosion resistance and maximum penetration to the cable’s core.”

The lubricant’s pseudoplastic rheology means that shear or agitation causes a reduction in dynamic viscosity, which allows maximum penetration into umbilicals and wire ropes, as well as increasing pumpability during application to minimise blockages.

Corrosion resistance is assured, with 0 galvanic reaction after 1,000 hours in salt spray testing and Biogen Wireshield  also offers shear stability in the presence of salt water, with little degradation in testing.

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