NYK Develops Onboard Sulfur-in-oil Analyzer

NYK and Nippon Yuka Kogyo Co., Ltd., an NYK Group company, have teamed with Horiba Ltd. to develop a new sulfur-in-oil analyzer for ships. The new device is based on an existing device used at onshore analysis centers.

Using this new analyzer, NYK will be able to thoroughly comply with regulations limiting sulfur oxides (SOx) from vessels, as well as optimize the company’s use of low-sulfur fuel oil.

Certain areas around Europe and North America have been designated as emission control areas (ECAs) to prevent air pollution, and ships sailing though those areas are required to use onboard fuel oil having a sulfur content of no more than 0.1 percent.

Therefore, onboard engineers must change to low-sulfur fuel before entering ECAs by calculating the time that the sulfur concentration in tanks and pipes will fall to 0.1 percent or less. Engineers have thus desired to be able to perform onboard sulfur-in-oil analyses to determine the best timing to change fuel and adhere to regulations. This new easy-to-operate sulfur-in-oil analyzer for ships has been developed to meet this demand.

This device can analyze a wide range of fuel, from C heavy oil to light oil. Maintaining the accuracy and reliability of onshore analysis centers, the compact new analyzer uses disposable sample cells to keep clean, even in the engine room, and allows onboard engineers to confirm that the sulfur concentration in fuel is surely under 0.1 percent before entering an ECA. This allows engineers to grasp the actual sulfur percent, which could only be estimated on board before.

The NYK Group will continue to comply with SOx regulations by making use of this sulfur-in-oil analyzer for ships. The group also collects actual time data from various types of vessels, and after analysis determines the optimal timing for changing fuel to best reduce consumption.