Chevron Marine Products Spotlights HDAX 9700 as Industry Pursues Increased Fuel Flexibility 

Baskaran Balakrishnan, manager, Marine Lubricants Product and Technology, Chevron / Luc Verbeeke, senior staff engineer at Chevron Marine Products

Chevron Marine Products is highlighting HDAX® 9700, its advanced, fuel-agnostic medium-speed trunk piston engine oil, through a global series of insight seminars aimed at supporting ship owners and operators seeking to build resilience and flexibility into their fuel strategies. 

The first event of the 2025 series was held in Hamburg in March, gathering marine customers and technical partners for a focused discussion on dual-fuel engine trends, regulatory change and Chevron’s role in enabling fuel flexibility with HDAX 9700. Further events are scheduled throughout 2025, including the recently concluded technical engagements in China and upcoming events at Nor-Shipping in Oslo. 

“HDAX 9700 provides the market with a fuel-agnostic lubricant, engineered to support both distillate and gaseous fuels without compromising on performance,” said Luc Verbeeke, senior staff engineer at Chevron Marine Products. “Operators who are investing in dual-fuel medium speed engines need confidence that their lubricant will perform across fuel types, eliminating the need to change lubricants with each fuel source selection.” 

Developed in response to stricter emissions regulations and the rise of dual-fuel engine technology, HDAX 9700 is a premium SAE 40 oil formulated to protect medium-speed four-stroke engines running on diesel, LNG, CNG, biofuels, methanol and ammonia. Its hybrid additive technology effectively controls ash accumulation, improves resistance to oxidation and nitration, and helps prevent corrosion - all with low oil consumption. HDAX 9700 is also an excellent choice for engines equipped with exhaust aftertreatment systems such as Diesel Particulate Filters (DPF) and Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) . 

The lubricant has been validated through over 20,000 hours of field testing on a Wärtsilä dual-fuel vessel and is the first and only lubricant to receive time-unrestricted approval from MAN Energy Solutions for use in four-stroke engines operating on either LNG or low-sulfur distillates (≤0.10% S). 

“Chevron’s Insight Seminars are designed to equip customers with the knowledge and insights they need to adapt their operations in lockstep with available technology,” said Baskaran Balakrishnan, manager, Marine Lubricants Product and Technology. “HDAX 9700 reflects Chevron’s commitment to helping customers meet emissions goals without sacrificing performance or restricting fuel choice.” 

The China seminar marked the beginning of an international engagement campaign that will include technical sessions at Nor-Shipping 2025 and expert-led discussions in key marine hubs. At these forums, HDAX 9700 will feature as a core part of the company’s support for the shipping industry engaged in a period of significant change. 

The sessions also provide a platform to explore new performance data, discuss case studies and preview upcoming enhancements to Chevron’s lubricant offering. 

■ Contact: Chevron www.chevronmarineproducts.com