Wärtsilä VER system saves oil tanker cargo losses, fuel costs, and the environment

Wärtsilä Corporation, Trade press release 4 December 2017 at 09:00 UTC+2
  • VER

The technology group Wärtsilä is introducing its Voyage Emissions Reduction (VER) system as a means for increasing oil tanker revenues, while also significantly aiding the environment through reduced emissions. The system effectively eliminates the problem of volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from tankers during laden voyages.

VOC’s are organic chemicals having a high vapour pressure resulting from their low boiling point, which leads to extensive evaporation. On average, an oil tanker will emit 0.085 percent of its contained cargo per each week. For a 320,000 DWT Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC), this amounts to 270 tons of lost cargo per week.

The Wärtsilä VER system is being made available in two versions. The ‘reabsorption’ version is a simple to install, ‘plug-in’ system that re-circulates the VOC back to the cargo tanks. It represents a technology for eliminating cargo losses, which operates automatically and without manual intervention. The Wärtsilä system demands far less power to operate than available alternative systems.

The ‘fuel’ version utilises the VOC as fuel for the vessel. This is a new, unique and patent pending innovation from Wärtsilä with significant fuel cost saving advantages. Both versions promote environmental sustainability by reducing VOC emissions by up to 75 percent.

“Wärtsilä is dedicated to developing innovative solutions that reduce operating costs for owners, while at the same time contributing to a cleaner environment. The VER system follows this philosophy by eliminating cargo waste and optimally lowering tanker fuel costs, thus enabling a payback time that can be less than one year,” says Timo Koponen, Vice President, Flow and Gas Solutions, Wärtsilä Marine Solutions.

The Wärtsilä VER system meets all the regulation 15 requirements of the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) MARPOL Annex VI protocol. It also fulfils port specific requirements for terminals with regards to VOC emission reductions.

The Wärtsilä VER system is launched at the Marintec conference and exhibition being held in Shanghai from December 5 to 8, 2017.

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Caption: The compact Wärtsilä VER system provides significant benefits to oil tanker operations.

Media contacts:

Mr Hans Buvarp
Product Manager, VOC
Wärtsilä Marine Solutions
Tel: +47 8154 8500
hans.buvarp@wartsila.com

Ms Marit Holmlund-Sund
Senior Manager Marketing, Communications, Marine Solutions
Wärtsilä Corporation
Tel: +358 10 709 1439
marit.holmlund-sund@wartsila.com

Wärtsilä in brief:
Wärtsilä is a global leader in advanced technologies and complete lifecycle solutions for the marine and energy markets. By emphasising sustainable innovation and total efficiency, Wärtsilä maximises the environmental and economic performance of the vessels and power plants of its customers. In 2016, Wärtsilä's net sales totalled EUR 4.8 billion with approximately 18,000 employees. The company has operations in over 200 locations in more than 70 countries around the world. Wärtsilä is listed on Nasdaq Helsinki.
www.wartsila.com