Chelsea Technologies gets in on China scrubber installations

CTG’s Sea Sentry wash water monitoring system for ship exhaust gas cleaning systems was installed in a Shandong Pure Ocean Technology scrubber, which has been retrofitted to Liberian-flagged bulk carrier BAO Glory, at the Weihai Xinhong shipyard in Weihai, China.

As more owners get off the fence and opt for scrubbers ahead of the 2020 global sulphur cap, order slots for installation are nearing capacity as the deadline nears and yards in China are expected to see increased uptake in scrubber installations as the government seeks to bring capacity in line with demand.

Whilst the economic case for installing scrubbers is clear for many vessel types and payback period is relatively short, scrubbers are a costly capital expenditure, ranging from $2m to $6m per unit, CTG noted, and as such it is crucial that compliance with environmental regulations can be proven.

CTG’s Sea Sentry provides a fully autonomous wash water monitoring system, which monitors both the water inlet and outlet of wet exhaust gas scrubber systems. The system has the ability to accurately measure the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, absorbance, turbidity (to ISO 7027: 1999), temperature and pH of scrubber wash water, and can monitor open-loop, closed-loop and hybrid scrubber systems.

CTG md Brian Phillips said: “Scrubbers are an attractive option for many vessels assessing compliance solutions ahead of 2020, given the expected disparity in fuel costs between HFO and compliant fuels. For those taking the decision to invest in scrubbers, it is critical that they plan ahead and that all aspects of scrubber operations are considered ahead of installation.”

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He added: “For vessel operators, it is essential to work with knowledgeable experts to receive the training required to operate new systems, along with the understanding they need to be able to interpret and apply the data, and prove compliance. Chelsea is working with leading scrubber manufacturers to ensure that shipowners who are taking the decision to invest in scrubber technologies have easy access to all the data they need to accurately prove compliance with wash water regulations, allowing companies to stay ahead of regulations and continue to trade across the globe.”

With owners and operators under increasing pressure to ensure compliance while balancing that against operational efficiency and profitability, accurate monitoring for compliance with environmental regulations is a vital prerogative for the international shipping industry, CTG reiterated.

CTG’s Sea Sentry has been certified by DNV GL and ClassNK, providing assurance to shipowners and operators that the system meets requirements for quality, accuracy, and operational efficiency.