The Environmental Protection Agency (US) has released its new Vessel General Permit (VGP) regulations, which now include the requirement to use Environmentally Acceptable Lubricants (EALs) in areas where there is contact between the lubricated part and the sea.
These regulations are designed to reduce ship borne pollutants and the introduction of invasive alien species from international ship traffic. For example, mineral oil, which has been proven to have serious detrimental effects on birds, is no longer an acceptable lubricant for parts of the boat which come into contact with the ocean in US waters.
Recommendations in the new VGP include the use of seawater where non-metallic areas require lubrication. For metallic surfaces which must be lubricated, suitable EALs include vegetable oils (soy, sunflower, canola/rape seed) synthetic esters (esterified/modified animal or vegetable oils) and polyalkylene glycols (which are petroleum based but highly water soluble).
The EALs were all evaluated for speed of biodegradation, level of bioaccumulation and aquatic toxicity. Specific impacts on birds were not addressed in the evaluation, however any oily substance has potential to harm birds, thus the use and transport of these products must be taken into account in the event of an accident at sea where oiled birds are involved.