ECOCHLOR : ONE-STOP SHOP FOR GREEN SOLUTIONS

In an effort to meet new regulations, shipowners worldwide are searching for solutions to comply with the Energy Efficiency Existing Index (EEXI) and Carbon Intensity Index (CII) scores. To meet this need, Ecochlor is bringing innovative, energy efficient technologies together under one roof to offer greater options for shipowners looking to lower their carbon footprint.

Along with its award-winning filterless ballast water management system (BWMS), Ecochlor now offers three additional “green marine” technology products – Sinotech’s carbon capture and storage (CCS) unit with scrubber options, Armada Technologies’ second-generation “passive” air lubrication system (PALS) and NanoVapor’s gas-freeing tank technology. Read on to learn more about each product and what they can do to help you reduce your greenhouse gas emissions.

ECOONE® FILTERLESS AND HYBRID BWMS

Any shipowner looking to stay compliant with regulatory agencies must soon reduce their CO2, making Ecochlor’s low-powered, EcoOne® filterless BWMS with hybrid options an ideal choice.

This system doesn’t have total residual oxidants sensors, complex power requirements or electrodes, making its operation and maintenance simple for crew members.

Sometimes, power consumption increases significantly when the BWMS is operating in less-thanoptimal water conditions. The EcoOne® ClO2 treatment technology is highly effective in all water conditions and its efficacy is not affected by salinity, temperature or turbidity, so power requirements do not increase with varying water type, offering more flexibility to trade routes.

Energy consumption for an Ecochlor system without a filter, on a ship with ballast flow rates between 5003000m3/hour, would range from 5-7kW. With flow rates between 3,000-10,000 m3/hour, the power requirements would range from a low of 10-15kW.

A factor further reducing power consumption is that treatment is only necessary on uptake (loading ballast water) and retreatment or neutralisation is not required at discharge. The Ecochlor BWMS power requirements are industry-leading low and can also provide low cold ironing costs, which offer the advantage of an overall lower carbon footprint.

SINOTECH CARBON CAPTURE AND STORAGE / SCRUBBER

Sinotech, a China-based company specialising in CCS, has a long history of success with more than 50 installations around land-based power stations.

The Sinotech system is a costeffective option via low sulphur fuels or cheaper heavy fuel oil (HFO) options with their modular designs; the standalone CCS (for use with very low sulphur fuel oil) or scrubber and CCS (for use with HFO).

Its CCS system has a comparatively low energy demand per captured ton of CO2 due to a 25% lower amine regeneration temperature and highefficiency heat recovery.

In early 2023, Sinotec will be installing a system on board three 65000dwt bulk carriers – making it one of its first marine-based operations. The Sinotech CCS has received Approvals in Principal from Lloyd’s Register, Bureau Veritas and Nippon Kaiji Kyokai.

Armada Technologies Air Lubrication System

If you’ve been researching air lubrication systems (ALSs) for your vessels’ EEXI and CII compliance, then the Armada system really is a game changer.

Instead of compressors or complex controls, this second-generation ALS uses the vessel’s own forward motion to drive water through an aperture in the bow via a series of branch lines to venturis and injectors that then “passively” delivers an air/water mix for hull lubrication of unparalleled efficacy.

Replacing the compressors are a small number of low-energy pumps and blowers to deliver system control and drag reduction optimisation that is aligned to the vessels speed, draft and the prevailing weather conditions.

At deeper drafts, it runs effectively without having any issues where the system builds pressures and air bubble “bursts” out rather than delivering a steady stream of air free or excessive boundary layer turbulence.

The Armada PALS is simple to install and use without the need for special teams of engineers to operate the system.

It has the potential to deliver significant net-fuel reduction with a quick investment payback.

NANOVAPOR GAS-FREEING TANK TECHNOLOGY

Are you ready to cut your carbon footprint and reduce your environmental impact? NanoVapor technology could be the answer. This product is newly available in the maritime industry and it can provide superior safety for crews while slashing costs and emissions compared with traditional de-gassing methods.

Using a NanoVapor unit suppresses volatile organic compound (VOC) formation very quickly. After a single venting, the fuel tank is safe to enter and remains that way for a lengthy period of time. Afterwards, the tank can be directly refilled.

However, de-gassing without a NanoVapor unit is a very different story. Everything has to be fully drained, including bottom sediments and then properly disposed of in an eco-friendly way. Prior to entry, venting is required with VOCs polluting the environment. The tank cleaning requires cleaning chemicals and/or hot water and, again, the slops will need to be removed by environmentally-approved methods with an outside agency.

Currently in Central Europe, venting cargo tanks to the atmosphere is illegal, depending on the cargo. Stationary or mobile VOC treatment units have to be used for cargo tank venting. These units recover or incinerate the cargo vapours, which also requires external energy sources.

Conclusion

The energy efficiency of ships has been given a major focus in the maritime industry and is leading the transition from traditional energy sources to decarbonisation.

Ecochlor is proud to contribute to this movement by providing energy efficient solutions that help shipowners and operators remain compliant with regulations while also reducing their overall environmental impact.

For more information, visit: ecochlor.com