10 years of Alfa Laval PureSOx scrubbers

(Posted on 31/01/19)

The arrival of 2019 leaves just one year until the global sulphur cap becomes reality. But as the marine industry scrambles to ready itself, an important milestone has already been reached. The new year marks a decade since the first vessel set sail with an Alfa Laval PureSOx scrubber on board.
 
In 2009, the RoRo vessel DFDS Ficaria Seaways entered dry dock for an expansion of its cargo space. While the vessel was being rebuilt, a hybrid PureSOx system – able to perform closed-loop as well as open-loop scrubbing – was retrofitted to clean the exhaust gas from its 21 MW main engine. At the time of the pilot installation, the prospects for SOx scrubbers were anything but certain.
 
“Ten years ago, there were many who didn’t think SOx scrubbers were feasible,” says Erik Haveman, Sales Director, Exhaust Gas Cleaning at Alfa Laval. “People simply weren’t convinced that a scrubber could meet ECA limits while operating in a marine environment, and the doubts about closed-loop scrubbing were even greater. Alfa Laval had sold scrubbers as part of inert gas systems for many years, and we had the water cleaning expertise needed for closed-loop operation. But the system and the challenges here were on a completely new scale.”
 
A decade later, the merits of both the scrubber and the centrifugal water cleaning unit are undeniable. The PureSOx system on Ficaria Seaways has spent thousands of hours in compliant operation – and is still going strong. In fact, so is every other PureSOx system ever installed. This flawless track record is unmatched by any other supplier to the industry, and it is underpinned by Alfa Laval’s 100 years of marine experience as a whole.

“The ten-year mark is an important milestone for Alfa Laval, but it also holds weight for customers facing the global sulphur cap,” Haveman says. “It means that our claims about PureSOx are not theoretical, but have been proven at sea, time and time again.”
 
During the course of the past ten years, PureSOx has been installed on vessels of nearly every type. This experience is valuable in the current wave of retrofits, where limited space demands practical answers. Alfa Laval has found solutions not only to vessel complexity, but also for the complex process of working with shipyards, engineering companies and the other partners involved.
 
Alfa Laval also has a head start in production capability, even if the global sulphur cap has led to a spike in demand. Having developed a well-functioning production apparatus in the early years of the scrubber market, the company has since been focused on scaling up with retained quality. The vital processes and routines are already in place, along with the physical capacity to machine the large metal components.
 
Perhaps more important, however, is the head start Alfa Laval has in scrubber services and optimization. Having followed dozens of PureSOx installations, on widely differing vessels and in widely varied conditions, the company has amassed a significant body of working knowledge. That knowledge has been packaged into a well-defined PureSOx service offering and is now being applied in new ways – such as helping customers optimize their systems through scrubber connectivity.
 
“With our PureSOx Connect offering, we’re entering the next phase even as other suppliers are just entering the market,” says Haveman. “A decade ago, our pilot PureSOx installation was the cutting edge. Today, we’re pushing the boundaries for exhaust gas cleaning on a fleet scale.”

Latest News

GSM and Neuero launch Argentina’s first floating grain terminal

Grupo Servicios Marítimos (GSM), in partnership with Neuero, has delivered a groundbreaking solution... Read more

Welcome Maritime Wi-Fi praised in global crew survey

Elcome International’s WELCOME Maritime Wi-Fi, now marking one year of service, has emerged as... Read more

DNV and RSI complete study on decarbonising short sea dry bulk fleet

Amid increasing pressure on shipping to achieve the IMO 2050 decarbonisation targets, the Responsible... Read more

MacGregor strengthens leadership under Triton’s ownership

MacGregor continues to serve its maritime and offshore customers with its wide portfolio of cargo and... Read more

Jonas Gustavsson appointed CEO of MacGregor

The board of directors of MacGregor Group AB has appointed Jonas Gustavsson Chief Executive Officer... Read more

Liebherr collaborates with Indian terminal to streamline bulk operations

Strategic lifting capacity meets India’s east coast logistics growth. The LHM 550s selected for... Read more

Inauguration of Wärtsilä’s advanced simulators in Malaysia

A new advanced simulation suite supplied by technology group Wärtsilä for the Akademi Laut... Read more

New nuclear for maritime is a “geopolitical imperative”

The New Nuclear for Maritime European Summit, the world’s largest international summit on maritime... Read more

Steelpaint contract with Winning International to protect capsize bulker

Steelpaint GmbH has received its first order from Singapore-based Winning International Group to supply... Read more

Anemoi and Lloyd’s Register publish landmark wind propulsion paper

Anemoi Marine Technologies, a leader in wind-assisted propulsion technology, has developed an in-service... Read more