Shell Launches Breakthrough Engine Oil for Shipping Industry (1)

LONDON, July 30, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Shell today launched Shell Alexia S4, its most innovative marine engine oil in a generation. Unlike conventional cylinder oils, it can be used across a wide range of vessel and engine types, fuel specifications, loads and climates - from the Antarctic to the Amazon to the Suez Canal. This means vessels no longer need to carry multiple oils. Shell Alexia S4 also works effectively at any vessel speed, including slow and ultra slow - especially important to modern ships that have to vary speeds to reduce fuel consumption and meet strict timetables.

"Shell Marine Products has a proud heritage of working with our customers for over 100 years. We have developed a smarter engine oil to meet the evolving needs of the modern shipping industry," said Surinderdeep Singh, General Manager of Shell Marine Products. "Shell Alexia S4 offers operational simplicity, cost reduction potential and proven performance under tough conditions."

The new formulation better protects engines, which can reduce maintenance and oil use, and reduces the need to shut down engines for repair. All this can deliver simpler operations and lower costs to today's vessel operators, facing a competitive market and increasingly tougher emissions regulations.

Shell scientists developed Shell Alexia S4 based on their unique 20 year understanding of oil stress- the factors which degrade lubricants and stop them working. The new formulation, with an innovative combination of additives, went through rigorous testing at Shell's Marine and Power Innovation Centre in Hamburg, Germany. Tests in laboratory engines under simulated slow steaming conditions demonstrated that Shell Alexia S4 provided up to a 20% improvement in overall engine wear, compared to Shell's existing cylinder oil and out-performed all other oils tested. It was also extensively tested during more than 25, 000 hours of field trials, by customers and the original engine manufacturers MAN and Wartsila. Here it proved its ability to protect engines running on distillates* and residual fuels containing 0.2% to 3.75% sulphur content in a range of locations and climates, including the Antarctic, the Middle East and South America. With technical support and a switch to Alexia S4, one specific trial showed a 33% reduction in oil feedrate. Alexia S4 will be available to customers from 1 August 2012.

*For up to 1000 hours in certain engines

For an animation explaining the benefits of Shell Alexia S4 please go to: http://www.shell.com/home/content/marine...

For further information on Shell Alexia S4 please go to:

http://www.shell.com/home/content/marine...

For images please go to:

http://shell.qbank.se/v2.7/mb.php?h=4802...

B--roll footage is available on request.

Notes to Editors

Shell Marine Products

Shell provides lubricants for the marine industry through its Shell Marine Products business. It serves more than 15,000 customer vessels, ranging from large ocean-going tankers to small fishing boats at around 500 ports in some 47 countries. The advice and technical services we provide help our customers achieve maximum value from using our lubricant products across all types of machinery and equipment on a ship. http://www.shell.com/home/content/marine...

Royal Dutch Shell plc

Royal Dutch Shell plc is incorporated in England and Wales, has its headquarters in The Hague and is listed on the London, Amsterdam and New York stock exchanges. Shell companies have operations in more than 80 countries and territories with businesses including oil and gas exploration and production; production and marketing of liquefied natural gas and gas to liquids; manufacturing, marketing and shipping of oil products and chemicals and renewable energy projects. For further information, visit http://www.shell.com.

Cautionary note

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