There are key issues to consider when evaluating potential equipment suppliers and their SOx scrubber systems.
The questions and explanations in this selection guide highlight some of the most important.
1. Does the supplier possess core technology in all necessary areas?
While scrubbers are proven to work and simple in principle, it takes considerable knowledge to optimize their function – especially in the marine environment. Your supplier should be experienced in the supply of marine solutions and should ideally have a speci c history with scrubbers. If you intend to purchase a closed-loop system, you should also look for a supplier with a deep knowledge of separation, as this will be necessary to ensure compliant cleaning of the scrubber circulation water. In-house knowledge of auxiliary equipment such as plate heat exchangers is a bonus.
2. Has the supplier worked continuously with one SOx scrubber platform?
The development of SOx scrubbers has been intense in recent years. Many players have entered and left the market, and many technologies have switched hands. Even some of the largest suppliers have changed their technologies along the way, or purchased technologies that were not developed in-house. The longer a supplier has owned and optimized its technology, the stronger that technology is likely to be.
3. Can the supplier ensure performance for specific sailing profiles regardless of operating conditions?
The marine environment is an unpredictable one. Rough seas, as well as rapidly changing engine loads, place extreme demands on equipment performance. Your SOx scrubber should be reliable in all conditions, even when it comes to water cleaning during closed-loop operation on stormy seas. The supplier should also be able to guarantee compliance in the areas where your vessel operates. If you have a varied sailing pro le, the ability to easily switch between global and ECA compliance modes is essential.
4. Can the supplier ensure simple and smooth operating transitions?
Your SOx scrubber should not add complexity to the operations on board. Your scrubber should not affect engine operation if it has to stop in an emergency. If you choose a hybrid scrubber or a model that offers ex compliance, you should also expect a fast, simple switch between operating and compliance modes.
5. Does the supplier have significant experience with exhaust from two- and four-stroke main engines?
Some of the SOx scrubbers today are largely untested in real life, and those with experience have often been tested in smaller installations with auxiliary engines. No matter what size or type of engines your planned installation involves, a system that has been proven to work with the greater safety requirements, higher power and higher variable load of main engines is a more robust choice.
6. Has the supplier received repeat scrubber orders from customers?
Nothing says more about a SOx scrubber or its supplier than the trust placed in them by customers. An extensive reference list is valuable, but the most important references are those where the same customer has purchased a system multiple times. The decision to purchase again, based on successful operation at sea, is the best seal of approval available.
7. Are all SOx scrubbers provided by the supplier (including trial systems) still operating well?
A supplier’s reference list should be examined critically. Many suppliers have tried and abandoned technologies or configurations, or have found certain installations difficult to optimise. If all of a supplier’s SOx scrubber installations – including trial installations – are still operating to the customer’s satisfaction, it is an indication of a sound technological platform and ongoing optimisation.
8. Does the supplier have a track record of meeting delivery times?
A spotless delivery track record is vital. If a supplier is unable to get equipment to your shipyard during the scheduled time slot, you incur a great deal of additional expense. As various environmental regulations demand new equipment on board in coming years, supplier resources and shipyard slots will likely be increasingly hard to come by.
9. Can the supplier minimize time out of service for installation and commissioning?
While the installation of a SOx scrubber is a major undertaking, your supplier should be able to minimize the time during which your vessel is out of service. With smart supply solutions, good planning and commissioning en route, it should be possible to limit your downtime at a capable shipyard to 2–4 weeks.
10. Does the supplier have global service and support capabilities?
Your SOx scrubber is a solution that will be with your vessel for many years. This makes it important to choose a stable supplier with a strong global network, who can provide long-term service and support wherever your vessel sails. In the unlikely event of a system failure, you want 24/7 access to your supplier’s services, no matter where you are.