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Finnish manufacturer Auramarine says its three-unit solution is a fast, reliable and affordable method of switching to low sulphur marine distillates in Emissions Control Areas (ECAs).

New stricter sulphur emission regulations, which will require vessels to burn marine gasoil (MGO) with maximum sulphur levels of 0.1 percent in ECAs, will become effective in the Baltic Sea, the North Sea, the English Channel and North America in 2015.

Auramarine’s solution to the issue of switching fuels in ECAs consists of three units: FO Supply unit, MGO Cooling System and Auramarine Fuel Selector - an automatic system that controls the HFO/MGO changeover procedure.

According to Auramarine, its solution can easily be integrated with any heavy fuel oil feeding system, whether newbuild or retrofit. In the case of newbuilds, Auramarine recommends the use of its FO Supply units, which have been designed to function seamlessly with MGO.

Ensuring engine lubrication is 'the number one priority'.

According to Auramarine, the cooling system reduces MGO’s temperature and increases viscosity to a level that meets the requirements set by the engine manufacturer. The ability of ship engines to utilize MGO varies considerably and the MGO Cooling System enables practically all ships to switch to low sulphur fuel, the manufacturer says.

In a switch to low sulphur fuel, Auramarine stresses that it is important that the process is both easy and safe. "The switch must not jeopardize the lubrication of the engine and thereby the engine's service life. Auramarine's fuel switch system secures this important phase completely," the company said.

Auramarine says its Fuel Selector makes it possible for the changeover procedure, from one fuel to another, to take place fully automatically.

The system is said to ensure that the temperature change process is slow enough, as the temperature of the fuel entering the engine must not change by more than about 2°C per minute.

Auramarine Fuel Selector also allows data reporting. The system saves the data on the PLC Unit and converts it into a report for the use of the shipping company and relevant authorities.

The Auramarine Fuel Selector allows the ship’s crew to monitor the process data in real time. Apart from the automatic changeover process, the system can be controlled manually. The Auramarine Fuel Selector also includes the possibility to monitor the overall functioning of the system.

"All in all, the Auramarine Fuel Selector offers shipping companies an easy, fast and cost-efficient solution for entering the new era of lower sulphur emissions required by the new regulations," Auramarine said.