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Hyundai Heavy Industries, the world's biggest shipbuilder and a leading marine engine manufacturer, has announced that it will supply 18 gas emission reduction systems for three drillships ordered by Rowan in June 2011.

The eco-friendly Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) system can reduce NOx emissions by as much as 95% by using an HHI-developed catalyst to separate NOx into nitrogen and water.

Analysts forecast the demand for the gas emission reduction system will surge in 2016 when International Maritime Organization Tier III emission limit regulations come into effect. Under those maritime regulations, ships built from 2016 should reduce NOx 80% less than Tier I level to 1.96 grams and 3.4 grammes per kilowatt hour.

Along with the SCR type, Hyundai Heavy is also developing an Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) type gas emission reduction system.

The Ulsan, South Korea-based company says it has also completed a test run of green gas marine engines emitting 20% less carbon dioxide than diesel engines and reducing NOx emissions by 97% to 50 ppm - said to be the world's lowest - whilst also improving engine performance by 47%.