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Grimaldi signs on for Alfa Laval PureSOx connectivity solution

The Grimaldi Group is increasing its commitment to the use of scrubbers, announcing it will be using Alfa Laval PureSOx scrubber connectivity on five vessels operated by its Atlantic Container Line (ACL) unit.

Vincent Wee, Hong Kong and South East Asia Correspondent

June 26, 2018

3 Min Read
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The PureSOx connectivity services will provide not only compliance monitoring, but also valuable data for use in optimizing PureSOx operation. The Grimaldi Group has been using PureSOx for exhaust gas cleaning aboard its vessels since 2014. ACL specializes in transatlantic cargo shipping.

Hybrid PureSOx scrubber systems have been installed on all five of its Generation 4 (G4) vessels: Atlantic Sail, Atlantic Sea, Atlantic Sky, Atlantic Star and Atlantic Sun. The PureSOx systems on these vessels will now be retrofitted with the Alfa Laval Remote Emission Monitor (ALREM), a data reporting and storage device that forms the basis for the growing PureSOx connectivity programme.

The PureSOx connectivity agreement will extend over the next three years, after which the services and their benefits will be evaluated.

Connectivity based on the ALREM is actually just one part of a much larger PureSOx service agreement for the ACL vessels. Training, yearly inspections, spare part supply and a sensor exchange programme are also included in the contract, but the addition of connectivity enables new possibilities to be explored and could become part of a total connectivity strategy for the group.

“We are eager to start taking advantage of connectivity with our PureSOx systems,” said ACL G4 vessels technical manager Pierluigi Marmo. “Alfa Laval provides us with good service already, but the customized connectivity services will increase our own insight and give us even greater access to the Alfa Laval service organization. Both of those things will make life easier for ACL and the Grimaldi Group as a whole.”

In addition to strengthening the ties between the ACL vessels and Alfa Laval service expertise, the ALREM will fit neatly into the Grimaldi Group’s own connectivity plans. The group is working on a proprietary solution to connect equipment across its vessels, into which the ALREM will also be integrated. This will ensure that all information valuable to the Grimaldi Group is available in one place.

“We’ve seen the value that collected data can offer,” said Dario Bocchetti, Grimaldi Group corporate energy saving manager. “By evaluating data from the current data logging system, for example, we’ve realized that PureSOx releases even less SOx than if we were sailing on MGO. With a fully connected solution based on the ALREM, such analyses will be far easier to perform.”

Read More: Alfa Laval PureSOx: Always a step ahead through flexible operation

Ultimately, Bocchetti sees the potential for making even better use of the PureSOx scrubbers across the Grimaldi Group. “Connectivity is useful for seeing where we are and demonstrating our compliance easily, but it will also be beneficial for our operational levels down the road,” he explained. “The more Alfa Laval can help us learn from the data, the more we can help our crews to understand our PureSOx systems and operate them in an optimal way.”

The possibility of enhancing reliability, savings and control makes Bocchetti enthusiastic about deepening the already long partnership between the Grimaldi Group and Alfa Laval. “We are glad to be part of the development surrounding the scrubber digitalization, ALREM and PureSOx connectivity,” he concluded.

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About the Author

Vincent Wee

Hong Kong and South East Asia Correspondent

Vincent Wee is Seatrade's Hong Kong correspondent covering Hong Kong and South China while also making use of his Malay language skills to cover the Malaysia and Indonesia markets. He has gained a keen insight and extensive knowledge of the offshore oil and gas markets gleaned while covering major rig builders and offshore supply vessel providers.

Vincent has been a journalist for over 15 years, spending the bulk of his career with Singapore's biggest business daily the Business Times, and covering shipping and logistics since 2007. Prior to that he spent several years working for Brunei's main English language daily as well as various other trade publications.

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