Wärtsilä Hamworthy to install world's largest multi-stream scrubber

23.04.2012

Wärtsilä Hamworthy, the global leader in complete lifecycle power solutions and integrated systems for the marine markets, today announced an agreement with Wilh. Wilhelmsen ASA, the global rolling cargo operator, to retrofit their vessel MV Tamesis with a Krystallon Exhaust Gas Cleaning System (EGCS).

The systems will remove sulphur and particulates from the exhaust gasses of the vessel’s main and auxiliary engines. The multi-stream scrubber system will be the world’s largest in order to manage the exhaust gasses produced by the 38,486dwt Mark IV RoRo vessel’s combined engine power of 28,000kW.

Its installation will prepare MV Tamesis for the upcoming sulphur emissions regulation that comes into force from January 2015, which mandates that vessels must burn fuel with a sulphur content of 0.1% when operating within Emissions Control Areas (ECAs).

The installation will be carried out during the vessel’s scheduled intermediate docking in the first quarter of 2013. Following the commissioning a comprehensive third party measurement and verification programme will be carried out over two and a half years, and is partly funded by the Research Council of Norway.

“This is yet another example of the growing market demand for scrubbing systems.” said Sigurd Jenssen, Managing Director, Hamworthy Krystallon “The third party measurement and verification of the project, which will be carried out by Marintek, the Norwegian Marine Technology Research Institute, is a key element which will further endorse the viability of scrubbing as an efficient and cost effective solution for ECA compliance. We anticipate that more owners and operators will follow industry leaders like Wilh. Wilhelmsen ASA in the adoption of scrubbers in advance of the 2015 deadline.”

By using a scrubber to reduce sulphur and particulate matter emissions from its main engine as well as its auxiliaries, MV Tamesis will be able to operate in ECAs from 2015 on a ‘business as usual’ basis avoiding the $300 to $400 price premium that standard vessels will have to pay for the distillate fuels they will need to burn to remain compliant.

“Installing Hamworthy Krystallon scrubber unit is a major step in preparing our fleet for the regulatory compliance,” says Wilh Wilhelmsen ASA’s project manager, Thamba Rajeevan. “When new, stricter emissions regulations come into force in 2015, our experience with this technology will be a valuable tool for taking the right decisions for the rest of our fleet. In the end, we want to see both a significant savings in emissions and a strong return on investment for the scrubber installation.”

On 31st January 2012, Hamworthy was acquired by Wärtsilä Corporation and is now known as Wartsila Hamworthy Ltd. The company is the world leading developer of Krystallon Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems for the global marine industry. The data from operational Seawater Scrubber units confirm greater than 98% sulphur oxide gas removal and up to 80% particulate removal, meaning with full installation vessels are ECA compliant and provide an unrivalled reduction in harmful ship emissions.

About Wärtsilä:
Wärtsilä is a global leader in complete lifecycle power solutions for the marine and energy markets. By emphasising technological innovation and total efficiency, Wärtsilä maximises the environmental and economic performance of the vessels and power plants of its customers. In 2011, Wärtsilä’s net sales totalled EUR 4.2 billion with approximately 18,000 employees. The company has operations in nearly 170 locations in 70 countries around the world. Wärtsilä is listed on the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki, Finland. www.wartsila.com

Hamworthy press release