USC Barnkrug adopts CMT’S FWDM system to optimize two-stroke move

Germany’s USC Barnkrug has adopted CMT’s Ferrous Wear Debris Meter (FWDM) to improve cylinder condition monitoring across its new two-stroke engined container fleet.

The decision follows a successful onboard trial that showed ferrous metal debris monitoring could deliver repeatable results, closer alignment with laboratory analysis and a simpler testing process than the total iron methods previously used by the owner.

USC Barnkrug manages and crews a fleet of around 32 vessels, including a series of new 1,400TEU containerships powered by two-stroke diesel engines running on low-sulfur fuel.

As the prime move takes the company beyond its four-stroke engine comfort zone, it sought a partner that could provide better insight into scrape down oil and support a cost-effective cylinder lubrication strategy.

“Cylinder lubrication requires accurate control, with feed rates set high enough to protect components while avoiding unnecessary oil consumption,” said CMT Managing Director David Fuhlbrügge.

USC Barnkrug first evaluated total iron measurement solutions from a range of suppliers but identified several drawbacks during onboard use but found that onboard readings did not always match later laboratory results, reducing confidence when deciding whether feed rates could be adjusted.

Repeatability was also limited, as repeated tests of the same sample did not consistently produce the same outcome. In addition, the process required chemicals and supporting equipment and could take around five to six hours for a seven-cylinder engine, creating a significant workload for onboard engineers.

Having previously used CMT’s cloud-based PREMET X engine analysis platform, the shipmanager approached the company for a more practical solution for optimizing cylinder oil feed rate and monitoring liner and ring wear directly through scrape down oil analysis.

“We recommended FWDM, which measures ferromagnetic wear particles in cylinder drain oil to provide a direct indication of wear trends and lubrication performance. The meter provides repeatable and accurate measurements down to single ppm levels,” said CMT says in a case study published online. Particle dielectrics, additives and water content do not affect the readings.

USC Barnkrug trialed FWDM on a newly delivered 1,400 TEU vessel over a two-month period, with onboard engineers testing the same samples multiple times to assess performance. In some cases, each sample was tested up to six times.

The trial showed that FWDM measurements were consistent within acceptable tolerance ranges and were closer to laboratory results than the total iron method previously used.

“The FWDM method simplifies the testing process,” said Fuhlbrügge. “No chemicals are required. Consumables are limited to simple plastic tubes and testing time is reduced. For a seven-cylinder engine, this significantly lowers the workload and time for onboard engineers compared with the earlier method.”

Based on the trial, USC Barnkrug has now discontinued total iron measurements and is now rolling FWDM across its two-stroke vessel fleet.

“The FWDM method provided data that could be used more effectively by onboard engineers when assessing cylinder condition and lubrication performance,” USC Barnkrug said in the case study. “That made it easier to support our cylinder oil strategy with reliable, practical onboard data.

CMT said the collaboration underscores the value of measurement reliability in engine monitoring, especially for operators managing modern two-stroke fleets.

By identifying wear trends earlier and giving engineers data they can trust, FWDM supports better lubrication decisions and more efficient maintenance planning.