CMT to Launch Onboard Oil Analyser at SMM Hamburg

New Onboard Tool Targets Faster Lubricant Diagnostics

According to a report by The Maritime Executive, based on information released by CM Technologies (CMT), the company plans to debut a new compact lubricant testing device, the WBS Analyser, at the SMM trade fair in Hamburg this September. The instrument is designed to give engine crews near-instant readings on oil condition, rather than requiring them to wait on results from shore-based laboratories.

How the WBS Analyser Works

The device uses infrared spectroscopy to examine a single oil sample and report on three key indicators: water content, base number, and soot levels. From these readings, engineers aboard can start to trace the underlying causes of oil degradation — including oxidation, additive depletion, and contamination from sources such as glycol or fuel. CMT says the analyser’s optical system has no moving parts, a design choice intended to hold up better under the vibration, heat swings, and tight spaces typical of engine rooms.

A Complement to Lab Testing, Not a Replacement

David Fuhlbrügger, CMT’s Managing Director, described the tool as a way to close the information gap between routine sampling and full laboratory analysis. He emphasized that shore-based lab work remains the standard for thorough oil investigation and tracking trends over time, but said the onboard unit is meant to arm engineers with usable data while the ship is still underway — so that emerging problems can be flagged before a formal lab report comes back. He also pointed to rising pressure on operators to control maintenance spending and improve machinery efficiency, particularly with fuel costs climbing, as a driver of demand for this kind of onboard diagnostic capability across fleets.

Machinery Failure Remains a Leading Casualty Cause

The announcement references Allianz Commercial’s Safety and Shipping Review 2026, which found that machinery damage or failure was the top cause of reported shipping incidents globally in 2025, making up more than half of all reported casualties. The same review noted that machinery repair costs are continuing to climb, reinforcing the value of catching developing faults early. Fuhlbrügger framed the broader issue as one of usable insight rather than raw data volume, arguing that what engineers need is information they can act on quickly, so that corrective steps can be taken as soon as a lubricant’s condition starts shifting.

What This Means for Owners and Managers

For technical superintendents and ship managers, tools like the WBS Analyser speak to a persistent operational gap: the lag between a lubrication or wear-related problem developing and a crew actually finding out about it through conventional lab-based oil sampling programs. Given that machinery failure remains the single biggest source of reported marine casualties, any reduction in that diagnostic lag has real relevance to both safety and cost control. That said, onboard readings are only as useful as the follow-up action taken on them — a fast result flagging rising water content or falling base number still needs to feed into a vessel’s planned maintenance system and be cross-checked against periodic lab trend data to avoid false confidence in a single onboard reading. This is also a reminder for owners relying on third-party condition surveys and engine room inspections: onboard screening tools can support, but shouldn’t substitute for, the independent verification that comes with a proper survey when assessing a vessel’s machinery condition, particularly during pre-purchase or charter-party disputes where documented, traceable evidence matters.

Availability

CMT is scheduled to present the WBS Analyser, alongside its existing test kits and diesel performance analysers, at booth 200 in Hall A3 during SMM, which runs from September 1 to 4 at the Hamburg Messe und Congress centre.

Reviewed by Ibrahim Halil Ceylan, Marine Surveyor at Apeks Marine.