Wärtsilä Exhaust Gas Cleaning systems are the first to be flag approved in Asia.
Wärtsilä Exhaust Gas Cleaning systems are the first to be flag approved in Asia. Photo: Wärtsilä
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The Singapore flag state authorities have approved Wärtsilä‘s exhaust gas cleaning (EGC) systems. It is the first EGC to be approved by an Asian flag authority.

The approvals relate to Wärtsilä EGC systems ordered for two new RoRo vessels owned by a Japanese shipowner and current[ds_preview]ly being operated by Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics, the privately owned Swedish/Norwegian shipping company. The ships entered into service this year.

The International Maritime Organization‘s (IMO) Marpol Annex VI regulations are aimed at reducing air pollution levels from ships by reducing the sulphur oxide (SOx) content of the vessel‘s engine emissions. The limits came into effect for ships operating inside Emission Control Areas (ECA) with effect from January 2015. A global cap becomes effective from 1 January 2020, subject to a feasibility review to be completed no later than 2018.

Under the regulations, compliance methods such as EGC systems can be approved. However, all systems need approval from the class and flag state of the vessel before they can be operated, and until now the majority of systems installed have been on European flagged vessels. The approval of Wärtsilä‘s EGC system by Singapore makes it applicable to Asian flag states.

EGC systems for two new RoRo vessels

The two new ships, the »Theben« and the »Themis«, are the fourth and fifth vessels being operated by Wallenius Wilhelmsen to have Wärtsilä EGC systems installed. The vessels are almost 200 m long, 36.5 m wide, and feature five liftable car decks, allowing for multiple configurations and a wide variety of customer cargo. They can transport up to 8,000 car equivalent units.

Wärtsilä EGC technology represents an economical and environmentally friendly solution that meets the highest standards of emission compliance. The company‘s SOx scrubber system solutions are suitable for both newbuildings and the retrofitting of existing vessels having either 2-stroke or 4-stroke engines, and are designed to provide flexibility and reliable operations.