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Wärtsilä has been contracted by Norwegian cruise and ferry operator, Color Line, to retrofit four exhaust gas cleaning systems to the company's SuperSpeed 2 ro-pax ferry. The contract was signed in June and the installation is expected to be carried out during docking of the vessel in spring 2014.

The four separate Wärtsilä open loop scrubber systems will ensure the ship's full compliance with the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) MARPOL Annex VI regulations, and with EU Directive 2055/33/EC. Furthermore, there is an option to install the Wärtsilä system on three other Color Line vessels as well.

By significantly reducing the emissions of sulphur oxides (SOx) and particulates from the engines' exhaust, the SuperSpeed 2 will be able to operate without restrictions in designated Emission Control Areas (ECAs). Wärtsilä is the first manufacturer to have been awarded the IMO certificate for exhaust gas cleaning systems by the classification societies Det Norske Veritas (DNV) and Germanischer Lloyd (GL).

"We take environmental issues seriously. Since 2001, all Color Line ships have maintained an environmental balance sheet that details emissions to air, and discharges to water and harbours. We believe that the Wärtsilä exhaust gas cleaning systems will significantly enhance our efforts in striving for sustainable operations," said Trond Klevidal, CEO Color Line.

"Color Line is a company that places great emphasis on environmental issues and is an industry frontrunner in this respect. Wärtsilä shares these ambitions and we are delighted to co-operate in ensuring full compliance with current and anticipated legislation," commented Juha Kytölä, Vice President, Environmental Solutions, Wärtsilä Ship Power.

The SuperSpeed 2 has the capacity to carry more than 1900 passengers and 764 cars, or 117 trucks. It sails from Larvik in Norway to Hirtshals in Northern Denmark.

The Wärtsilä Open Loop Scrubber System

The system operates in an open loop using seawater to remove SOx from the exhaust. Exhaust gas enters the system and is sprayed with seawater in three different stages. The sulphur oxides in the exhaust react with the water to form sulphuric acid. Chemicals are not required since the natural alkalinity of seawater neutralizes the acid.

Wash water from the system is treated and monitored at the inlet and outlet to ensure that it conforms with all applicable discharge criteria. It can then be discharged into the sea with no risk of harm to the environment. Wärtsilä's offering also includes the Wärtsilä closed-loop scrubber and the Wärtsilä hybrid scrubber system.