The International Marine Organization (IMO) introduces a new law on reducing Sulphur oxides (SOx) emission. New regulations will come into force from 1.01.2020, assuming a significant reduction in the sulfur content in marine fuels. Starting from this date, the limit sulfur content in the fuel will be 0.5% m /m - compared to the currently valid limit of 3.5% m /m.
Adjustment to new requirements will demand application by ship-owners to use compliant low-sulfur fuels as: liquefied natural gas (LNG), biofuels, methanol or ensuring that emissions will be cleaned by using an exhaust gas scrubber.
Designing a fully electric, battery powered, eco-friendly and green energy ships and ferries, Nelton shows that its approach to environment protection remained unchanged. Introduced law means that an alternative to many large container ships floating on traditional marine fuel is to install the flue gas cleaning system, which is the task for Nelton’s team.
The difficulty for Nelton’s engineers is to design the new installation on existing ship. Vast sizes of pumps must be installed in the casing-engine space, which requires the reconstruction of the ship’s structure and changes in its arrangements. Components and devices dedicated to the new system achieve huge dimensions, the scrubbing installation reaches the DN1000 diameter and the exhaust system up to DN3300. The stage completing the reconstruction is updating the classification documentation and work documentation for the shipyard.
It needs to be highlighted that new rules introductoring global Sulphur oxides limit will have a positive effect for human health and natural environment. The emission of sulfur oxides to the atmosphere is the cause of many diseases, it also causes acid rain, which adversely affects flora and fauna.
Nelton involved in adapting the fleet to new environmental requirements
