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Leading classification society ClassNK has announced that it will participate in a new joint development project to install and verify the effectiveness of new sulfur oxide (SOx) scrubber technology onboard a Pure Car Carrier (PCC) being carried out by Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (K-Line), Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), Mitsubishi Kakoki Kaisha, Ltd, (MKK), and Japan Marine United Corporation (JMU).

This new joint research project is being implemented as part of K-Line’s new Drive Green Project, which aims to protect the environment and reduce CO2 emissions through the use of new maritime technology. As part of the Drive Green Project, K-Line is due to install a variety of new green technologies, including a new Hybrid SOx Scrubber System developed by MHI and MKK, on a 7,500 unit PCC being built at JMU for delivery in 2016. The vessel will be the flagship of a series of 8 new PCCs currently on order by K-line.

In addition to CO2 emissions, SOx emissions are a major concern for shipowners and operators. Under amendments to MARPOL Annex VI which regulate harmful emissions from ships, the IMO will lower the cap on sulphur emissions for vessels in Sulfur Emission Control Areas (SECA) such as the Baltic and North Seas to 0.10% from January 1 2015. MHI and MKK’s new Hybrid SOx Scrubber system effectively removes sulphur from the exhaust engine exhaust, making it possible for vessels to satisfy the SOx emission requirements while using heavy fuel oil, which is less expensive and more widely available than low sulfur fuels. The new system is the first Japanese-made scrubber system to satisfy the new sulphur emission restrictions.

The project being carried out by K-Line, MHI, MKK and JMU, and ClassNK will oversee the installation of the new Hybrid SOx Scrubber system on the vessel as well as verification of its effectiveness in actual operations. For its part, ClassNK will support the safe installation and operation of the system onboard, as well as make use of data and experience gained from the research to support its certification and emission verification activities.

ClassNK is supporting the project as part of its Joint R&D for Industry program, which provides research support and funding for joint research projects that address challenges faced by the maritime industry. Since the program’s founding in 2009, ClassNK has supported more than 260 projects carried out with industry partners from around the world.