Wärtsilä delivers a marine scrubber to Containerships Ltd

Wärtsilä Corporation, Trade press release 19 January 2011 at 13:00 UTC+2

The installation of scrubbers is a major step in the introduction of exhaust gas cleaning technology for maritime applications. The Wärtsilä scrubber will enable the vessel to meet future emission requirements in Sulphur Emission Control Areas (SECA) in an economical way. Wärtsilä is the first manufacturer to have been awarded the IMO certificate by the classification societies Det Norske Veritas and Germanischer Lloyd.

Wärtsilä, the marine industry’s leading ship power solutions provider, has signed a turnkey contract with Containerships Ltd Oy. The agreement covers the retrofitting of a Wärtsilä fresh water scrubber for the vessel Containerships VII, which is equipped with a Wärtsilä W7L64 main engine. This is Wärtsilä’s first commercial marine scrubber project for a main engine. The scrubber will be delivered to the customer in August 2011. The conversion will enable the vessel to meet future sulphur oxides (SOX) emission requirements in Sulphur Emission Control Areas.

Scrubbing is an attractive means of meeting the increasingly stringent International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and EU regulations. Scrubbers efficiently reduce exhaust gas emissions such as sulphur oxides and particulates, and slightly also nitrogen oxides.

“The Wärtsilä fresh water scrubber technology will meet both environmental and commercial requirements for our operations. We see it as a clear advantage that Wärtsilä, with its long experience in emissions abatement technology, delivers the scrubber solution,” says Sigurjon Markusson, CEO, Containerships Ltd Oy.

Wärtsilä’s extensive experience

Wärtsilä has extensive experience in developing and delivering scrubbers for stationary diesel power plants, and offers a wide range of solutions for emissions reduction. The Wärtsilä scrubber is a fully integrated design that aims to achieve optimal lifecycle efficiency, with outstanding performance and cost effective operation. The system complies with the new IMO guidelines for cleaning the exhaust emissions from all 2- and 4-stroke engines and oil-fired boilers.

Wärtsilä is the first manufacturer to have been awarded a marine scrubber certificate by the classification societies Det Norske Veritas and Germanischer Lloyd. Wärtsilä aims to strengthen its position as a major supplier of scrubbers and other exhaust gas cleaning technology for maritime applications. The company seeks to support its customers in meeting the requirements being set by increasingly stringent environmental legislation.

Wärtsilä scrubber works in closed-loop system

The Wärtsilä scrubber works with fresh water in a closed-loop system in which sulphur oxides are neutralized with caustic soda. A small amount of scrubbing water is extracted to remove contaminants in a treatment unit onboard, thereby fulfilling all the quality and monitoring requirements stipulated by the IMO. In so-called zero discharge mode, the clean effluents are led to a holding tank for scheduled and periodical discharge. Contaminants are always disposed of at reception facilities in port.

For further information, please contact:

Mr Juha Kytölä
Vice President, Product Centre Ecotech
Wärtsilä Industrial Operations
Tel + 358 40 500 2936
juha.kytola@wartsila.com

Ms Tuula Franck
Senior Manager, Media and Stakeholder Relations
Wärtsilä Corporation
Tel: +358 400 267 555
tuula.franck@wartsila.com

Image of M/S CONTAINERSHIPS VII
Caption: The 13.965 dwt container vessel M/S Containerships VII will be equipped with Wärtsilä’s scrubber

Please find more information about the Wärtsilä scrubber system in the press release 10 September 2009:  Wärtsilä scrubbers first to be certified to combat marine sulphur oxide emissions 

Containerships in brief
Containerships Ltd Oy is a Finnish door-to-door shortsea carrier providing key industrial and retail customers with regular container transport solutions between Finland, Russia, Scandinavia, Eastern Europe, the Baltic States, Western Europe, the UK and the Mediterranean. Containerships employ 600 staff in 21 countries and currently operate with 14 ships and 13.000 containers. With a fleet of 45ft high cube pallet wide containers offering similar intake as road trailers (33 euro pallets) Containerships has been a successful and environmental friendly alternative to road transportation.
www.containerships.fi

Wärtsilä in brief
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 2009, Wärtsilä’s net sales totalled EUR 5.3 billion with more than 18,000 employees. The company has operations in 160 locations in 70 countries around the world. Wärtsilä is listed on the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki, Finland.
www.wartsila.com