World Bunkering > News > Summer 2010 > Equipment and services

Veson launches fleet-level bunker management

US-based Veson Nautical has launched its IMOS6 Bunker Management module as part of its Integrated Maritime Operations System. The company says the module is tailored to the business needs of specialists, charterers, and bunker managers, adding fleet-level visibility to existing vessel-level capabilities to optimise fleet-level purchase strategies and financial results, and provide bunker decision and process support.

“After reviewing customer input and assessing current requirements, we expanded the existing features and tools to encompass fleet-level capabilities,” explained John Veson, president of Veson Nautical. “Operational efficiencies for the entire fleet, not just per vessel, means that specialists and bunker managers have access to crucial bunkering data, enabling them to make better informed decisions to negotiate better pricing. This can greatly impact the bottom line.”

The company claims that, because with IMOS6 Bunker Management purchasing processes are automated and provide fleet-level purchasing data decision-making can be improved. The system automates the bunker request process from individual operators or vessels, so staff can respond to bunker requirements across the entire fleet.

Piracy holds up Ecospec tests

Ecospec, the makers of a revolutionary scrubber that its makers claim removes CO2, NOx and SOx from emissions, says that the danger of pirate attacks in the Gulf of Aden has delayed type approval testing on the system. The company presented the results from the first shipboard trials to delegates attending IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee. Tests using 380 cSt fuel oil with 3.64% sulphur content showed a minimum removal efficiency of 76.5% of CO2, 98.6% of SO2 and 54.5% of NOx. This confirms results from onshore tests carried out in autumn last year.

The system was installed on board aframax tanker White Star, owned and operated by Tanker Pacific, in December 2009, with the first tests taking place in January this year. Tests were carried out over three cycles to ensure repeatability, and were verified by ABS and Singapore MPA. Representatives from both organisations were at the presentation, and confirmed the success of trials so far. Type approval, however, is still some time off, and Ecospec were unable to give a firm date for this, saying only that the period of type approval testing, to be determined by MPA, has yet to be settled. The White Star is currently on charter involving transiting the Gulf of Aden, and tests have been suspended until the vessel is in safer waters.

There was some scepticism from attendees about the total carbon footprint of the scrubber. However, the only consumables are magnesium electrodes, said ceo Chew Hwee Hong. The amount of CO2 used in production of one magnesium rod was equivalent to 0.6% to 0.8% of the CO2 it will remove over the course of its use.

Ensolve OWS completes MEPC testing

US-based EnSolve Biosystems says it has completed and passed the MEPC 107(49) certification tests for its new compact PetroLiminator 200M (PL 200M) Oil Water Separator (OWS) system.

EnSolve’s president, Jason Caplan, said: “We are very excited about this new product for many reasons. First, it has an attractive price point that allows us to compete with almost every OWS product on the market. Second, it has a very small footprint, thus permitting installation on any class vessel, including work boats, tugs, ferries and luxury yachts. And third, the effluent quality and process throughput are exceptional.” The company says that its patented PetroLiminator system is the first and only marine OWS that uses a combination of physical and biological means to treat oily bilge water. Like its PL 630M predecessor, the PL 200M OWS system incorporates safe micro-organisms to consume hydrocarbon wastes in the ship’s bilge water, so treated bilge water can be safely and legally discharged overboard. It treats both pure and emulsified oil, as well as detergents, degreasers and other chemicals in the water. The larger version of PetroLiminator is already in use on a wide range of vessels.

MOL develops PM filter

Japanese shipping group Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) says that, together with Akasaka Diesels, it has developed a diesel particulate filter (DPF) for vessels using marine heavy fuel oil. According to MOL, tests showed that the device removed more than 80% of particulate matter (PM) from diesel emissions. A DPF was installed on the main engine of an MOL Group-operated coastal ferry, the Sunflower Kogane.

MOL says: “This test marked the first successful use of a self-regenerating DPF on a large vessel using marine heavy fuel oil.” The 9,710 gt, 9,267 kw Sunflower Kogane is operated by MOL subsidiary Diamond Ferry Co. The DPF includes filters made of silicon carbide ceramic fibres, which remove PM from the exhaust. An internal heating system automatically burns off accumulated PM in the filter to eliminate clogging. This is said to eliminate the need for cleaning by crew and allows the filter to be used continuously. A statement says: “Following the success of the experiment, MOL and Akasaka Diesels will further upgrade the DPF to ready the device for practical installation on diesel main engines and auxiliary engines of large-scale ocean-going vessels.”

Rigaku launches sulphur gauge

US-based Applied Rigaku Technologies Inc says its newly launched NEX XT is the next generation process gauge for high-level sulphur measurement (0.02% to 6% S) of crude, bunker fuel, fuel oils, and other highly viscous hydrocarbons, including residuums. Rigaku says that the “versatile, compact and robust” X-ray Transmission (XRT) process gauge is specifically optimised for the sulphur analysis needs of refineries, pipelines, blending operations, bunkering terminals and other storage facilities. Applications for the NEX XT include bunker fuel blending to meet MARPOL Annex VI sulphur restrictions, interface detection of different grade fuels delivered via pipelines, refinery feedstock blending and monitoring, and the quality monitoring of crude at remote collection and storage facilities.

Rigaku says its equipment is engineered to be fully compatible with the high pressures and extreme temperatures employed in transmission pipelines and blending operations. Among its other key features are a simplified user interface, automatic density compensation, automatic water compensation, password protection, and standard platform for communicating sulphur, density, and water content to a plant-wide DCS.

LR to test biofuel suitability

Lloyd’s Register (LR) says that is to play a major role in a two year programme to test the suitability of biodiesel for use in powering marine engines. The feasibility study will take place on board the Maersk Line container ship, Maersk Kalmar. An LR statement says that the biodiesel FAME (fatty acid methyl esters) used for the test will be based on sustainable crops grown in temperate regions or reused oils. This would appear to be aimed at deflecting growing criticism of bio-fuels on the grounds their use stimulates increased palm oil production at the expense of rain forest.

Initially, the scope of the tests will involve using a blend of between 5% and 7% biodiesel, with the blend percentage being steadily increased. “One of the aims of the tests is to establish the degree to which issues experienced by the automotive industry in the use FAME, will be duplicated on board ship, in particular the impact on storage stability, handling, and its subsequent use in the engine. Where adverse effects are arising it is hoped to find solutions to overcome them,” says Kim Tanneberger, a specialist in LR’s Strategic Research Group (SRG).

Collaborators in the biodiesel project are Maersk Line, Maersk Tankers, Maersk Supply Service, Maersk Drilling, Maersk Ship Management, Lloyd’s Register’s Strategic Research Group, and a consortium of Dutch subcontractors. The project is being part funded by the Dutch government and coordinated by Maersk Maritime Technology (MST).

LR says that, in theory, FAME can be used in pure form as an engine fuel but it has a number of shortcomings as a fuel, putting aside the high costs and limited availability compared to petroleum derived fuels. Problems include:

• storage stability
• adverse reaction of materials to it (acidity, surfactant properties of FAME)
• susceptibility to microbial growth
• adverse effects on instrumentation of the bilge water system
• poor cold flow properties (cloud point and pour point)
• impact on the level of NOx emissions emitted
• variation of quality of supply worldwide, depending on feedstock.

“Exploring the behaviour of our engines and storage tanks and knowing the change in air emissions by using FAME blends on board will give us valuable knowledge of the opportunities and challenges,” says Lasse Kragh Andersen, senior environmental specialist at Maersk Maritime Technology.