Image: Ionada

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Exhaust gas cleaning system provider Ionada BV has signed a pilot agreement with Van Oord to test the firm's semi-dry scrubbing technology aboard Van Oord's hopper dredger Lelystad.

According to Ionada, ship owners can benefit from bunker savings of 50 percent by installing its technology - and consuming cheaper, higher-sulphur fuel - whilst at the same time meeting the IMO's upcoming 0.5 percent global cap on fuel sulphur content.

The pilot with Van Oord is planned for the fourth quarter of 2018.

Ionada is one of a number of companies that was selected for this year's PortXL accelerator programme for startups.

The 100-day programme started in Rotterdam on March 12 and ended with a final 'shakedown' presentation to outline the company's progress on June 14.

This was subsequently rounded off with Ionada's pilot scrubber agreement with Van Oord.

Earlier this week, Van Oord signed a five-year partnership agreement with Shell Marine covering the lubrication requirements of its entire fleet of vessels.

Back in February, the Dutch dredging, marine engineering and offshore project specialist also launched its first LNG-fuelled ship, the Werkendam.