Alfa Laval Wins Repeat PureSOx Order from Danish Ferry Operator

Alfa Laval won a repeat order for its PureSOx exhaust gas cleaning systems valued at approximately €19.5 million from Danish ferry operator DFDS. The contract was signed in June, and the order was booked and communicated to stakeholders in the second quarter of 2013. Delivery is scheduled from January to July 2014 with retrofit installation and commissioning of eight DFDS vessels – five roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) vessels and three roll-on/roll-off passenger (Ro-Pax) vessels – to follow immediately thereafter.

Alfa Laval’s long-term partnership with DFDS stretches back to 2008 when DFDS first installed PureSOx aboard M/V Ficaria Seaways. Since then, PureSOx has operated successfully for more than 10,000 hours in open and closed loop configurations and in full compliance with IMO regulations for sulphur emissions control areas. PureSOx consistently reduces sulphur content from heavy fuel oil exhaust gas to a level below 0.1%.

Last December DFDS ordered PureSOx systems to retrofit three additional Ro-Ro vessels. Six months later, this €19.5 million order for PureSOx systems for eight additional vessels was received. This brings the total number of DFDS vessels, including the MV Ficaria, that have been or will be retrofitted with PureSOx to 12.

In placing its latest order, DFDS gives its tacit endorsement to the PureSOx system. The eight-vessel order is also noteworthy due to the range of: engine makers (MAN, GMT-Sulzer and Wärtsilä); engine types (both two- and four-stroke); total output power (18.9 to 28.8 MW); exhaust gas mass flow (124,600-205,000 kg/h). Moreover, the addition of the Ro-Pax vessel type extends the PureSOx vessel type beyond Ro-Ro vessels only.

Commenting on the order, DFDS vice president and head of technical organization Kasper Moos said, “With our investments in scrubber systems, DFDS is among the companies leading the way to compliance with the sulphur emissions regulations that will take effect in 2015. We believe hybrid scrubbers are among the most efficient alternatives to using expensive low-sulphur fuel oil.”

The PureSOx scrubber solution provides competitive advantage by limiting the increase in DFDS’ operating costs. Using PureSOx enables DFDS to continue to use heavy fuel oil on these vessels instead of paying higher prices for low-sulphur fuel while ensuring full compliance with current and future IMO sulphur emissions regulations.

Peter Leifland, President, Alfa Laval Marine & Diesel Division, said, “We will continue to support DFDS in their discussions with ship designers and shipyards and in their efforts to ensure their vessels are fully compliant with IMO emissions regulations.”

The IMO International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships requires all vessels to comply with a 0.1% sulphur emission limit in certain Emission Control Areas (ECAs) beginning in 2015 and a 0.5% limit beginning in 2020.

Facts about Alfa Laval PureSOx
PureSOx is a sulphur-removal system, and the first installed and operated as a main engine (21 MW) exhaust gas scrubber. The ability to switch between an open loop with seawater or a closed loop with fresh water gives PureSOx operational flexibility. According to the manufacturer, PureSOx is the first scrubber system with multiple inlets, and its modular construction ensures a compact and energy-efficient installation.

•    Sulphur removal in accordance with IMO MARPOL Annex VI Regulation 14
•    Sulphur removal rate greater than 98% (exceeds IMO requirements)
•    Particulate matter (PM) trapping up to 80%
•    Ability to operate in low-alkalinity waters
•    Multiple-inlet options to reduce the number of scrubbers on board
•    Upgradeable design for compliance with future legislation
•    Short payback time (1-2 years) thanks to fuel cost savings
•    Operating power consumption: approximately 1.5% of engine power
•    Includes the PureSOx H2O water cleaning unit

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