SCR Scrubber System for Marine Engines First to Receive Approval from MAN

Hitachi Zosen Corporation said it had been working on its SCR system since 2009. 

Japan-based Hitachi Zosen Corporation says its new selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system for marine engines has received first-time approval (FTA) from its licensor, Germany's MAN Diesel & Turbo SE, adding it was the first firm to receive such approval.

Hitachi said that it had been working with MAN to develop a system for marine engines using the company's nitrogen oxide (NOx) removal catalyst system since 2009. 

The system was certified by Japanese classification society Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (NK) in 2011, and has been undergoing on-ship testing since then in preparation for upcoming NOx environmental regulations. 

New vessels constructed after 2016 travelling in established NOx Emissions Control Areas (NECA) must adhere to Tier III NOx standards, which requires an 80 percent NOx reduction from Tier I. 

Hitachi said that its new FTA verifies that its NOx system adheres to Tier III standards, and being the only company to have such approval is an advantage.

"Since it takes at least one year to design a new ship, the demand of new shipbuilding with SCR is rising significantly for NOx reduction systems," the company said. 

According to Hitachi, its NOx system uses high-temperature exhaust gas upstream of the turbocharger to prevent excessive CO2 emissions, in addition to using urea as a reductant to render NOx harmless. 

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) came to a compromise earlier this year on NECAs, leaving the establishment of future areas up to the authority of local states.