World Bunkering > News > Autumn 2009 > Introducing EGCSA

Don Gregory

The Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems Association (EGCSA) provides a forum and a focus for the fledgling marine industry developing technologies to clean up exhaust emissions from the combustion of bunker fuels on board ship. Testing and trials of technologies to remove nitrogen oxides, sulphur oxides and particulate matter has been in progress since the last century. Several ships have been operating Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) technology, whilst technology for “scrubbing” out sulphur oxides (SOx) and particulate matter (PM) only commenced in the late 1990s with early experiments by the Shell oil company. The SCR technology has advanced considerably as has scrubbing technology for SOx and PM. The current membership of EGCSA is solely focused on SOx and PM emissions. However, EGCSA welcomes all industrial organisations developing marine exhaust gas cleaning technology.

EGCSA also operate an “Associate” membership for those organisations that wish to be to associated with and support the work and aims of the association. EGCSA Associate membership not only provides the benefits of unique information and resources but also the benefit of the current and future activities of the association.

Regulating technology

EGCSA recognises that the drive to reduce pollution emissions and greenhouse gases will stimulate many ideas and technologies, not least the many technologies developed by its current membership. But faced with imminent and demanding environmental requirements, shipoperators and owners will be presented with an increasing number of options of varying degrees of development and performance. Shipowners purchasing technologies of questionable pedigree and integrity may find that they own an expensive mistake, regret investment and face fines and ship detention. To prevent this situation, it will be vital to provide purchasers and regulators with assurance regarding the integrity, reliability, performance and operability of these new technologies. EGCSA is currently developing a code of conduct and guiding standards for its members.

The guidelines for exhaust gas cleaning systems were discussed, finalised and adopted on 17 July 2009 at MEPC 59. These guidelines enable manufacturers and buyers to invest in scrubbing technology, safe in the knowledge that the parties to the MARPOL Convention 73/78 have confirmed that this has become an accepted solution for reducing emissions to air of SOx and PM.

The governing criteria of the guidelines are probably some of the most stringent ever developed by IMO. In fact the Method B approvals process does not simply allow a demonstration in performance and subsequent certification of a new design. Instead, it demands continuous monitoring of the system performance whenever the systems are in operation. This outcome not only ensures that the marine environment (air and water) is continuously protected, but also provides a significant degree of assurance to the ships’ officers responsible for compliance with exhaust emission standards wherever in the world the ship is sailing.

Technology overview

Today the degree of confidence shipowners have in these technology solutions is indicated by the rapid development of new shipboard installations.

The UK company Krystallon has so far delivered four units ranging from 800 kW to 8 MW. Clean Marine began the operation of its vortex technology installation on board a bulk carrier at the beginning of July 2009. Aalborg Industries claim the largest unit to be installed (20 MW), due for commissioning in September 2009. Wartsila has pursued a closed loop system with its test unit in operation on board a tanker since October 2008. Advanced Cleanup Technologies Inc (ACTi) is a barge based system. ACTi were recently awarded a grant to demonstrate their technology on the United States west coast. Marine Exhaust Solutions (MES) based in Canada have designs on the way, and a couple of previous installations. The list goes on and on.

The overriding message is that the technology is being developed rapidly which will drive down costs and provide more solutions and choices for shipowners. EGCSA’s role providing assurance of product integrity performance will become ever more important in the coming months and years.