Global sulphur cap 2020

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Global Sulphur Cap 2020 - Guidance for two-stroke engines

The Global Sulphur Cap 2020 with entry into force on 1st of January 2020 will impose stricter fuel sulphur content restrictions on the global fleet. Under the new rules, ships must burn fuel oils with a sulphur content of no more than 0.5% or a maximum equivalent emission output, which is a significant drop from the current limit of 3.5%.

There are three broad strategies available to ensure compliance with the Global Sulphur Cap 2020 legislation:

Use compliant fuels based on marine distillates, low sulphur residual fuels and/or blended fuels
Convert vessels to run on liquefied natural gas (LNG)
Install SOx scrubbers to clean exhaust gas

Nevertheless, after 1^st of January 2020, it is expected that most of international shipping fleet will operate globally with compliant fuels, as only a smaller percentage of the fleet is expected to be equipped with scrubbers and therefore able to operate on high sulphur Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO).

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Operating two-stroke engines with fuels compliant to the Global Sulphur Cap 2020

The implementation of the Global Sulphur Cap 2020 is a significant shift in the types of fuel oils being bunkered by the international shipping fleet, away from predominantly high sulphur Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) to a wider variety of fuel options with different properties (e.g. %S content, calorific value, viscosity, density, lubricity, pour point, compatibility, stability etc).

Due to continuous operation of two-stroke engines with compliant fuels with varying quality and grades, an impact on the reliability of the two-stroke engines and the time between overhauls (TBO) for the fuel-injection components may occur, resulting in vessels’ operational challenges.

Furthermore, the implementation of the Global Sulphur Cap 2020 will impose not only variations on the quality of the compliant fuels in terms of density, viscosity and combustion characteristics, but it is also expected to impose price increases of compliant fuels oils across many regions.

Wärtsilä’s solutions will maximize the fuel efficiency of two-stroke engines and minimize impact on vessels’ profitability and competitiveness due to the Global Sulphur Cap 2020.

Intelligent Combustion Control for RT-flex and W-X engines

Wärtsilä Intelligent Combustion Control system (ICC) automatically balances the cylinder pressures enabling the engines to operate reliably, in accordance with their original shop test performance.

Wärtsilä RTA injection timing automation

Wärtsilä RTA Injection Timing Automation (RITA) ensures optimal engine performance in all conditions. The solution automates the real time adjustment of the two-stroke cylinder firing pressures to the optimal set-point, which gives fuel savings of up to 1.5%.

Wärtsilä FAST upgrade (Fuel Activated Sacless Technology)

The Wärtsilä Fuel Activated Sacless Technology (FAST) reduces the amount of unburnt fuel and thus the fuel consumption. It significantly improves the two-stroke combustion quality and reduces hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide emissions.

Wärtsilä FuelFlex Injection control unit upgrade

Wärtsilä FuelFlex ICU upgrades earlier generation Injection Control Units (ICUs) of Wärtsilä RT-flex 96C-B and RT-flex84T-D engines, in order to solve the operator’s challenges related to the IMO’s Global Sulphur Cap 2020 compliant fuels.

Wärtsilä Take me home kit

Vessels’ operators can now ensure continued operation in case of damage to fuel injection components, due to contaminated fuel, with Wärtsilä Take Me Home Kits and Wärtsilä Onboard Repair Kits that should be onboard each vessel.

Wärtsilä Health check

There are various dangers to delivering cargo on time. A main engine break is one them and even regularly carried out maintenance is no guarantee. Understanding the actual operational risks related to the main engine operation enables to decide on appropriate actions.

Operation guidance to the Global Sulphur Cap 2020

Information to all Owners and Operators of all Sulzer, Wärtsilä and WinGD branded two-stroke engines

On 1st of January 2020, the maximum permissible global sulphur content of marine fuels is reduced from 3.5 % to 0.5% according to MARPOL Annex VI.

The Technical Bulletin concentrates only on “compliant fuels”. It provides information and guidance on operation for the engines using these fuels after 1st January 2020.

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Lifecycle Solutions

Wärtsilä Lifecycle solutions optimise the efficiency and performance of your marine assets. We predict your maintenance needs, ensure your assets operate in the most energy-efficient way and ensure that your vessel operates in accordance with all relevant regulations. But our holistic approach goes beyond maintenance and operations: we combine digital innovations and advanced data to help match activities to your operations. Our performance targets are agreed based on measured data and then guaranteed to be reached and maintained.

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