BP Offering Free Lubrication To Gulf Ships - Net Benefit In Fuel Savings

BP Engineer Frank N. Stein explains it this way:

"We realized that the global shipping industry consumes 40% of the diesel fuel produced in the Gulf of Mexico, and that 10% of that traffic actually takes place in the Gulf itself. We also found out that a fuel savings of 20% could be realized simply by proper lubrication of the screws and propeller shafts of these vessels, but that maintenance is often overlooked.

Now, when ships enter or leave the mouth of the Mississippi River, they pass through the autolubrication zone which we have provided as a free public service, as part of our committment to the environment. We were surprised when we ran the numbers to find out that we actually saved more fuel by allowing this one well to vent freely, than the fuel we could produce from that well. People need to realize we have managed to save more oil than we've put into the Gulf, and it is one of the innovative ideas that makes us a leader in saving this planet."