The Shanghai Marine Diesel Research Institute’s (SMDERI) Exhaust Gas Cleaning System (EGCS) solution, represented by Glafcos Marine Ltd., offers a reliable answer to a top challenge faced by the global shipping industry today: the IMO 2020 Sulphur Cap regulation, which reshapes the world-wide shipping industry landscape.
That was the central message of the “Scrubbers 360ο” event, organised by the Chinese CSIC at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center, on Wednesday 12 December, coordinated by Glafcos, aiming to bring to the Greek maritime industry a 360o view on the Exhaust Gas Cleaning System (Scrubber) as a top choice to achieve SOx regulatory compliance.
The industry’s high interest for the event, as well as the different perspectives presented by stakeholders representing all aspects of the maritime sector, certify the success of this CSIC initiative.
As Leonidas Drikos, Managing Director, Glafcos Marine, said, “shipping companies are currently in the time pressing position to decide on the solution to be followed, either utilization of compliant fuels or EGCS installation, and to answer most probably a more difficult question regarding the EGCS maker that they shall trust.” And he added: “The SMDERI solution offers a reliable answer to such concerns, since:
• the experience of SMDERI and continuous R&D in exhaust gas cleaning solutions ensure both the operational efficiency and reliability of proposed solutions,
• the design principle has been also certified by the Classification Societies, through the Engineering Prototype Approval process, • EGCS material and manufacturing process are selected to ensure long life system reliability,
• the major and critical components are supplied by reputable and reliable makers, basis to customer’s needs and requirements,
• the World Wide After Sales Network has been ensured, to cover all operational needs and
• the Strong and Stable Financial background of SMDERI can ensure the after sales support in the future.”
Mr Drikos continued, focusing on the competitive advantages of the SMDERI solution: “CSIC presents a reliable solution of high production capacity but also of an equally high, European level quality, making the best use of the technological know-how of the Chinese manufacturer in very competitive terms.”
“Although apparently simple, scrubber technology presents significant scientific, technical and engineering challenges and opportunities”, said Dr George Skevis, Principal Researcher of the Center for Research and Technology Hellas (CERTH). He added: “The Greek R&D Community in close collaboration with the Greek and International Shipping Industry can provide innovative solutions for the customization and optimization of scrubber systems in terms of increased emission mitigation efficiency and reduced capital and operating costs.”
Antony Vourdachas, Principal Vessel Performance Analyst, ABS, stated: “The upcoming 2020 global sulfur cap and the associated uncertainty is creating complexity for ship operators when markets are already challenging. However, developments in the last MEPC (73) may provide assistance to them. There are many potential solutions to the problems faced by the operators, but scrubbers seem to be near the top of the list for many, especially in the short term”.
From his point of view, Loukas Kaniaros, from CHANDRIS HELLAS shipping company, said: “We are well aware of regulation 14 of annex vi, which requires ships to use fuel oil with sulphur content not exceeding that stipulated in regulations 14.1 and 14.4. Nevertheless regulation 4 allows the use of alternative compliance method, including usage of scrubbers. In using such appropriate arrangements (scrubbers), there would be no substantial constraint on the sulphur content of the fuel oil used. To summarize all the above, from a ship owner’s perspective, we can briefly analyze most of the technical issues raised and some significant concerns involved when selecting a scrubber.”
ABOUT CSIC
The China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC), established in July 1999, is a leading state-owned business and one of China’s largest shipbuilding and ship repair groups, the only company in the Chinese shipbuilding industry listed on the Fortune Global 500. The group has a total asset base of USD62.95 billion and a workforce of around 150,000 employees. It includes a number of well-known shipyards, diesel engine manufacturers and research institutes which are associated with the flagship listed subsidiary. CSIC is also the leading player in the research and design of naval and merchant ships, with 13 academicians and more than 40,000 highly qualified engineers working at the group’s six national class R&D centres, nine national class laboratories and twelve national class technological research centres as well as 150 large-scale laboratories. CSIC’s product range extends beyond the maritime industry and into the realm of designing and manufacturing advanced large turnkey equipment and high-tech products.
ABOUT SMDERI
SMDERI is the only state research institute on marine diesel engine in China, affiliated to CSIC one of China’s largest shipbuilding and ship repair groups. SMDERI, founded in 1963, is an enterprise group engaged in R&D, manufacturing, service and project contract. The main products developed and produced by SMDERI, with a market covering more than 30 countries and regions in the world, have been widely used in more than 20 fields, such as machinery, petrochemical, energy, transportation, etc.
ABOUT GLAFCOS MARINE
Glafcos Marine Ltd. is a technical group of Naval Architects, Marine, Mechanical and Electrical Engineers, Surveyors and Marine Consultants, offering its experience and services, products and systems, in the maritime industry worldwide, through a highly competent network with branches in Greece and China. With more than 20 years of experience and a well-established database of suppliers, technicians and local professionals, Glafcos provides efficient services and personalized attention to in the fields of: new building projects, conversions and modifications, vessels in service, inspection, repairs, consultancy, design and R&D, with an air-ready crew 24/7 and a hotline.
SinoGlafcos, the Chinese branch of Glafcos, is a global maritime group of companies serving the merchant marine along the Chinese Coastline and Worldwide, supplies general ship supplies, provisions, stores and leading technical maritime brands through an extensive network branches.