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
New Polish cement contract for Bedeschi
(Posted on 13/04/21)Bedeschi has been awarded a new contract by Nanjing Kisen International Engineering, part of CNBM Group... Read more
DESMI gains market share despite pandemic
(Posted on 11/04/21)2020 has been a special year for DESMI. Founded in 1834, the company is one of Denmark’s oldest... Read more
Iskenderun bulkers provide reference for Nippon Paint
(Posted on 06/04/21)Turkey’s Iskenderun Ship Management has provided a first reference for Nippon Paint Marine&rsquo... Read more
Hydrex underwater repairs in winter conditions
(Posted on 06/04/21)In just over a week Hydrex diver/technicians travelled to Finland, Germany, the Netherlands and France... Read more
ABB Azipod electric propulsion marks 30 years
(Posted on 06/04/21)From its creation three decades ago to its market leading position in global shipping today, Azipod... Read more
MHC to increase Italian terminal productivity
(Posted on 01/04/21)The port terminal operator SERMI in Pozzallo (Sicily), has ordered an eco-efficient Konecranes Gottwald... Read more
Inmarsat signs Greece/Cyprus agreement
(Posted on 01/04/21)Inmarsat, the world leader in global, mobile satellite communications, has signed an agreement with... Read more
US cement handler orders Siwertell unloader
(Posted on 28/03/21)Bruks Siwertell has recently secured a new Siwertell road-mobile ship unloader order for cement handing... Read more
Veteran to lead Superior’s sales
(Posted on 28/03/21)Superior Industries, Inc., a U.S.-based manufacturer and global supplier of bulk material processing... Read more
Survitec unveils new crew face covering
(Posted on 22/03/21)Global safety solutions leader Survitec has unveiled a new face covering with protective features designed... Read more
