World Bunkering > News > Autumn 2010 > Equipment and services

Bunker news - Wärtsilä develops low-emissions engine

Wärtsilä, ABB and HUG are cooperating on the joint development of next generation low emissions technology that will increase efficiency while lowering NOx emissions.

In April this year, Wärtsilä and ABB Turbo Systems announced their cooperation in a joint development programme for a new and groundbreaking application of two-stage turbocharging on large diesel engines. The application of two-stage turbocharging technology on Wärtsilä diesel engines has been developed through close cooperation between the two companies. In this latest bunker news we hear this programme, Wärtsilä is focusing on developing advanced engine technology, which with the turbocharger is able to reach the highest possible performance and become a cost-effective commercial solution for its customers. ABB Turbo Systems is delivering the turbocharging technology with defined performance in terms of airflow, pressure ratios and efficiency.

In an extension of this cooperation this bunker news can report that, after-treatment specialist Hug Engineering, based in Elsau, Switzerland, is to join the project. The new joint project is to develop an innovative compact selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system especially tailored to operation with two-stage turbocharging.

Wärtsilä, ABB Turbo Systems and HUG Engineering will target a further expansion of flexible engine operation at reduced NOx emissions and optimised fuel consumption, as well as targeting savings in first and life cycle costs. By combining their expertise and resources, the partners hope to achieve early readiness for market.

Bunker news - RINA introduces LS rules

Latest bunker news reports that the technical committee of classification society Registro Italiano Navale, (RINA) has outlined new additional class notations for commercial ships using low-sulphur fuel.

The new Low Sulphur Fuels (LSF) notation, reflects the introduction of Emissions Control Areas (ECAs) and current national and international rules such as EU Directive 2005/33/EC, the California Code of Regulations (CCR) and MARPOL Annex VI, all of which are designed to achieve a progressive reduction in the sulphur content of marine fuels. The new class notation will be assigned to both new and existing ships whose machinery uses low-sulphur-content fuel. The list of machinery and percentage of sulphur content in the fuel used will be recorded in ship survey documents.

Bunker news - Laser emissions monitoring system launched

WR Systems, Ltd. (WR) has announced in bunker news the release of a second generation laser-based marine emissions monitoring system. The system will be formally launched at the SMM Exhibition in Hamburg in September. According to the company, Emsys is the world’s first QCL (Quantum Cascade Laser)-based, fully extractive, combined emissions and particulate matter (PM) monitoring system. It has been designed to be compliant with MARPOL Annex VI, the NOx Technical Code, and ECA requirements.

Emsys is installed within the funnel space, but is unique in that it monitors PM emissions “outside the stack”. The system is the first production system to incorporate QCL technology. The laser can monitor multiple gases and is designed to be relatively maintenance-free. Combining highly accurate measurements with a unique gas path design eliminates many of the problems associated with traditional extractive and in-stack technology. This bunker news can report that WR claims the compact configuration greatly decreases installation time; correspondingly, installation costs are significantly lower than first generation extractive systems.

Emsys is designed and tested for continuous operation in multiple engine applications, and provides PM measurements in mg/m³ and g/kWh. Conventional gaseous measurements include NOx, SOx and CO² for all installed engines, with the optional facility for NH³ (ammonia) in Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) applications. Geographic position (GPS) data is recorded and time-stamped against each emission record, enabling full traceability for assured compliance.

Emsys employs a sophisticated dashboard to display voyage emissions performance and compliance information. Configurable emissions reports, which include graphical representation of real-time values and historical trends, are also available. The system can provide real-time alarms for all monitored emissions based upon the applicable limit and geographical position. Fuel sulphur content is continuously monitored (% m/m) to allow optimised management of fuels for MARPOL, CARB (California Air Resources Board), EU (European Union) and other regional regulatory limits. Emsys™ is suitable for both diesel engines and boiler installations.

WR systems senior vice president David Edwards comments in this bunker news report that: “We are truly delighted to be launching Emsys™ to the International Marine Community in Hamburg. Emsys™ is the first in a strategic range of products and services designed to satisfy the market demand for high-reliability, vessel-critical systems and raise the standards of technical support from those currently accepted within the industry.”

Bunker news - DNVPS launches distillate data service

In other bunker news, Singapore-based fuel testing service DNV Petroleum Services (DNVPS) has launched a new data service on marine distillate quality delivered to commercial vessels globally.

DNVPS managing director Tore Morten Wetterhus says: “Ship operators intending to procure distillates in problematic areas can use our statistics to narrow down on individual suppliers who have good track records in delivering reliable products. Otherwise, the statistics are also a good reference for planning alternative bunkering stops.”

According to DNVPS, close to 20% of all distillate deliveries in the first quarter of this year had over 10kg/m³ density differences between the values stated in bunker delivery notes and laboratory-tested values. The company says that, as marine fuels are bought by weight but delivered by volume, lower actual densities imply short-delivered quantities.

DNVPS notes: “Compared to heavy fuel oils, density differences for marine distillates were higher and happening more frequently. Since distillates cost more, buyers in the first quarter of 2010 would have incurred bigger losses from the short-deliveries of these fuels.”

Mr Wetterhus warns in this bunker news that progressively stricter fuel regulations and rising demand for marine distillates are putting suppliers under constant pressure. He says the latest DNVPS distillate data point to quality issues concerning flashpoint, density, viscosity and sulphur.

Flashpoint off-specification, for instance, is a major onboard safety hazard which contravenes SOLAS regulations and could render a ship ‘out of class’ if it has received such a non-compliant fuel.

According to the latest bunker news DNVPS statistics, about 2% of distillates tested by the company and supplied globally in the first quarter of 2010 did not meet flashpoint requirements. Over 70% of distillate deliveries from the major Antwerp-Rotterdam-Amsterdam (ARA) bunkering area were in fact very close to the specification limits for this parameter and had little margin for errors.

DNVPS warns: “If this trend continues, any minor quality glitch could lead to a massive flow of off-specification products into the market.”

Available online, the DNVPS Marine Distillate Quality Statistics provides fuel buyers with a variety of search options, ranging from supplier-specific data to wider quality trends and patterns in worldwide bunkering locations. It is presented in the same format as the DNVPS Residual Fuel Oil Statistics, which is well-established and used by shipoperators to track and benchmark heavy fuel quality.

DNVPS says shipoperators subscribing to the Marine Distillate Quality Statistics can monitor the performance of fuel suppliers in fulfilling ordered qualities and quantities of distillate products, or gauge their vessels’ consumption efficiency of these fuels. They can then make informed procurement decisions and also better manage other operational aspects related to the onboard handling and use of marine distillates.

Updated quarterly, the Marine Distillate Quality Statistics draws on a database consisting of over 1.2 million tested fuel samples from DNVPS’ two-third market share in the global bunker testing business.

The new product comes at a time when shipping operations are increasingly driven by fuel regulations, such as the EU Directive 2005/33/EC, to use more marine distillates.

Since Jan 1, 2010, ships at berth in the EU Community Ports have had to consume fuels with no more than 0.1% sulphur content. This effectively means only marine gas oils may be used in the ports.

Additionally, the revised ISO 8217 marine fuel specification (reported in more detail in other bunker news), to be introduced by July 1 this year, will contain new quality parameters and stricter limits for marine distillates.

“Compared to heavy residual fuels, marine distillates are ‘cleaner’ as they produce less sulphur oxide, nitrogen oxide and particulate matter,” says Mr Wetterhus. “But distillates are much higher-priced and therefore one of the most important considerations for buyers is to determine if their ships have received the right type, quality and quantity of distillate fuel.”

Bunker news - Kittiwake opens in India

Indian bunker news reports that Kittiwake Developments has opened its latest international office, in New Delhi, India. Headed up by managing director, Deepak Sharma, the long time distributor of Kittiwake in India, the New Delhi office trades as Kittiwake Proactive Technologies Pvt Ltd. Recent rapid growth in sales in the territory prompted Kittiwake to form the company with Mr Sharma, providing a permanent base and to demonstrate commitment to the market.

Deepak Sharma, managing director, Kittiwake Proactive Technologies Pvt Ltd, said: “It is both an honour and a pleasure to be so closely associated with such a fast growing, professional and innovative company as Kittiwake. We have no doubt that this move will have a truly positive effect on our customers as we work to grow the market.”

The company says it has already won major contracts – both private and government – supplying a full range of condition monitoring technology and establishing the Kittiwake brand in this previously under exploited market. Central to Kittiwake’s recognition and success has been the ability to provide local after sales support.

Kittiwake’s managing director, Martin Lucas, said: “Ten years ago Kittiwake was a £2 million company with 20 people. Today, we have grown into a £8.5 million company with six global offices, employing 60 people and partnering with 45 distributors and agents. Nearly 78% of the business is now represented by international sales.”

He added: “Over the next few years we aim to reach in excess of £10 million through organic growth by continued access to new markets and geographies, as well as introducing new technologies. We will also be pursuing an aggressive acquisition programme to further expand the business. Our presence in India has provided us with the necessary platform to consolidate our position in this rapidly developing marketplace, enhancing the service that we provide to our customers, worldwide.”

Kittiwake now has five international offices, in the UK, Germany, Malaysia, US and India.