Clean Marine’s EGCS First to Operate Inside ECA

MV Balder, equipped with Exhaust Gas Cleaning System (EGCS) from Clean Marine, is reported to be the first vessel in the world to operate this type of system in the U.S. Emission Control Area (ECA). Upon arrival in Baltimore recently, the vessel’s Master sought approval from the coast guard to enter and exit the ECA Zone using High Sulfur Fuel Oil with EGCS, rather than burning the more expensive Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (1% sulfur content). Clean Marine invited USCG and EPA to observe the EGCS in operation for compliance with the ECA. Officials from the U.S. Coast Guard, led by Lieutenant Commander Edgardo Cruz (Chief Inspection Division, Sector Baltimore), conducted a Port State Control exam on August 29 in Baltimore and confirmed that the Clean Marine EGCS installed onboard was operating satisfactory and found to be in full compliance with MARPOL Annex VI as an equivalency to utilizing low sulfur fuel oil as per the IAPP Certificate. Clean Marine CEO, Nils Høy-Petersen said, “Meeting the U.S. Coast Guard’s stringent requirements proves that our unique and competitive multi-stream EGCS solution is a sound technology that enables vessels of all types to transit through a U.S. ECA.” The Clean Marine EGCS on board the handymax bulk carrier bulk carrier is an integrated, multi-stream system which cleans the exhaust from one main engine, three auxiliary engines and one boiler. The system is also a hybrid type which can operate in both open and closed loop.
www.cleanmarine.no

 

(As published in the October 2013 edition of Maritime Reporter & Engineering News - www.marinelink.com)