Hamworthy Krystallon signs contract with Hyundai Heavy Industries for full scrubber system on VLGC

Hamworthy Krystallon, the leading marine scrubbing technology manufacturer, signed a significant contract with Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), the worldʼs biggest shipyard. The contract will see Hamworthy Krystallon deliver a scrubber system on a Liquified Petroleum Gas tanker being constructed for Solvang ASA. The 84.000 cubic meter (cbm) VLGC will have the worldʼs first full vessel scrubber system.

The newbuild vessel will be fitted with two scrubbers; one for the main engine and one combined scrubber for three auxiliary engines. The scrubbers and washwater treatment will be situated in the funnel, in a modular design. This concept can readily be applied to similar vessels such as tankers, demonstrating that seawater scrubbers can help ship owners comply with upcoming regulations, irrespective of vessel type and size.

It is the first commercial contract for a full vessel system, allowing the vessel to operate whilst burning only heavy fuel oil. The newbuild vessel has been designed to take into account all aspects of energy efficiency and environmental performance, using Solvangʼs and HHIʼs extensive experience. The drive for energy efficiency will also see the vessel fitted with a next generation Hamworthy Cargo Handling system, which will ensure lower energy consumption and improved operational flexibility.

Initiatives specific to the exhaust gas cleaning systems, will include varying the washwater amounts depending on the load and sulphur content of the fuel oil, as well as installing an additional particulate matter (PM) capture system, which reduces PM emissions by in excess of 90%.

The new contract precedes what from this month is effectively a three-year deadline for the fitting of scrubber technology before the 2015 deadline for meeting 0.1% sulphur levels in Emission Control Areas (ECAs) Europe and North America comes into place. The increased need for speedy decision making as ship owners and operators face the pressures of meeting 2015 comes as shipowners face-up to the significant costs of using distillate fuel, the technical challenges of switching from heavy fuel oil to low sulphur products, as well as the considerable developments that need to be conducted with LNG, scrubbing technology remains the only proven and viable solution.

Commenting on the contract, Sigurd Jenssen, Managing Director, Hamworthy Krystallon, commented: “We are delighted to be working with Solvang ASA and HHI to deliver the worldʼs first complete scrubber system, and the first ever scrubber to be fitted on a LPG carrier.

“There is real concern over the 2015 ECA regulations, and we are starting to see more owners and operators actively consider what solution they will employ to remain compliant, but time is running out. Ship owners and operators are increasingly aware of the impending supply chain issue facing the market, but many fail to consider that once a scrubber system is installed, it is important to develop operational experience prior to using on a daily basis.”