Containerships and Finnish company Wärtsilä signed a turnkey contract concerning a pioneering[ds_preview] technology in the maritime sector aimed at reducing emissions from sea going vessels. This new technology will be installed on motor vessel »Containerships VII« and be operational during last quarter of 2011. Developed by Wärtsilä the »scrubber technology« will place Containerships in a leading role towards matching the emission requirements set in the Sulphur Emission Control Areas (SECA). Currently and as per Marpol regulations all ships operating in the Baltic Sea and the North Sea have to use fuels with a sulphur content not exceeding 1,0 % per mass. As from 1.1.2015 the sulphur content allowed will be set at 0,1 % per mass. M/V »Containerships VII« will meet the strict regulations already in 2011.
Wärtsilä is the first manufacturer to have been awarded a marine scrubber certificate by the classification societies Det Norske Veritas and Germanischer Lloyd. The scrubber installation consists of a scrubbing unit including control and monitoring systems and ancillary equipment which cleans the exhaust gas from the vessel’s main engine. Scrubbers efficiently reduce exhaust gas emissions such as sulphur oxides and particulates, and slightly also nitrogen oxides.
The scrubber works with fresh water in a closed-loop system in which sulphur oxides are neutralized with caustic soda. A small amount of scrubbing water is constantly extracted and fed into treatment units onboard where the contaminants are removed and pumped into vessels existing sludge tank. Contaminants are always disposed of at reception facilities in port. Clean effluents are discharged overboard, in accordance with IMO rules. The scrubber can also be operated in so-called zero discharge mode where clean effluents are fed into a holding tank.
»The Wärtsilä fresh water scrubber technology will meet both environmental and commercial requirements for our operations. We see it as a clear advantage that Wärtsilä, with its long experience in emissions abatement technology, delivers the scrubber solution,« says Sigurjon Markusson, CEO, Containerships Ltd Oy.
