By
Rebecca Gibson |
Since 2005, Clean Marine has been developing a multi-stream, hybrid exhaust gas cleaning system (EGCS) suitable for both open- and closed-loop operation in any type of water. The company has pioneered multi-stream and hybrid features for EGCS through extensive tests and installations performed since 2006. The latest full-size installation took place onboard MV Balder (a handymax self-unloader) in May and June 2012 in cooperation with shipowner Torvald Klaveness, shipyard Viktor Lenac and ship designer SRS. The project received support from Innovation Norway.
Besides verifying the performance of the company’s latest MkIII EGCS version, a major objective of this project for Clean Marine was to define and tune the installation process from initial dialogue to full system commissioning and handover to the owner for a retrofit EGCS project. With its background in ship ownership and management, Clean Marine managed aspects such as the interface with machinery and structure and subsequent approval by class, scheduling of the installation in connection with regular dry docking, and planning, preparations and supervision during installation.
Key deliverables include installation drawings and documentation for class approval and workshop documentation (including specifications for equipment, material and installation, class approval drawings and documentation, technical manual, onboard monitoring manual and SOx emission compliance plan). Clean Marine also undertook installation and equipment specification for yard quotation and equipment and material ordering; piping and structure prefabrication; and equipment delivery.
Planning started in November 2011 and firm agreement with the owner was secured in February 2012. One obvious success criterion was installation time and any additional off-hire caused by the EGCS installation in connection with a regular drydocking event, which may take 10-21 days depending on the vessel’s age and type. For the 10-year-old MV Balder, the aim was to complete the EGCS installation within 28 days or as long as it took to complete other general repairs and the final tally was 33 days.
Minor outstanding pipework remained which was completed at sea and commissioning took place in August and September 2012. Lessons learned are presently being adopted into standards and procedures awaiting future installation projects.
Installation of a Clean Marine exhaust gas cleaning system onboard a cruise or passenger ship would follow the same procedure as for the MV Balder. Although preparations vary for each individual ship, the cleaning unit itself and the definition of auxiliary equipment follow standard procedures once the design data have been specified. The first task would be to identify if there is space inside the funnel for the cleaning unit. If not, drawings would be produced for the required modifications to fit it to the exhaust pipes. Drawings are also made for routing of pipes and wiring and suitable locations for auxiliary equipment such as pumps and tanks. Planning for how to install the system onboard the vessel is always carried out in close cooperation with the client.