Leading classification society ClassNK has issued EGCSR-F (Exhaust Gas Cleaning System Ready Full) notations to nine ships operated by Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. This notification signifies that the ship fulfills requirement for SOx scrubber retrofitting, ClassNK said in its press release.
Following discussions on the implementation schedule of MARPOL Annex VI SOX/PM regulations at MEPC70 in October last year, all ships operating outside Emission Control Areas (ECA) will be required to limit sulfur emission levels to under 0.50% from 1 January 2020.
In order to enable the safe and secure retrofitting of SOx scrubbers as part of efforts to meet the incoming SOx emission limits, ClassNK joined a project to examine SOx scrubber retrofitting in ships in service with industry leading companies Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd., Minaminippon Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., Sanwa Dock Co., Ltd., and Wartsila Japan Ltd.
The aim of the project is to examine the engineering of SOx scrubber retrofits applied to a Pure Car Carrier that is already in-service. The PCC was chosen due to the technical challenges caused by the limited space in the engine room compared to different ship types. ClassNK used the results obtained during the project and compiled them into safety requirements for retrofitting.
ClassNK confirmed that the retrofit plan developed during the project fully complied with project requirements along with corresponding class and statutory requirement, and subsequently issued the EGCS-F notation.
Further, ClassNK is now preparing to include the requirement for the issuance of EGCSR-F to its Guideline for Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems scheduled to be released in July this year.