Mon 20 Oct 2008 10:08

MOL tests LNG-fueled power system


Mobile cold ironing technology aims to reduce emissions while at berth.



Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) and CleanAir Logix, Inc.(CAL) have announced that they have successfully tested a liquefied natural gas (LNG)-fueled shore power supply system on the containership MOL Enterprise.

The patented, Dual Frequency, Multi-Voltage (DFMV) mobile cold ironing technology was demonstrated on the 4,500 TEU vessel to show how a typical containership can eliminate and/or significantly reduce harmful emissions while at-berth.

The electricity was supplied to the 4,500 TEU vessel whilst many visitors, including officials at the port of Los Angeles looked on.

CAL used a system that was connected to the power cable for the bow thruster motor. Power was connected to this line from an on-shore generator that runs on LNG, substantially reducing emissions of pollutants such as NOx and SOx compared to running the vessel’s generators, which operate on heavy fuel oil. During the test, only two of the ship’s four onboard generators were in use.

The CAL Cold Ironing system is designed to connect to virtually any ocean-going vessel (OGV) regardless of its country of manufacture.

"The CAL DFMV Liquefied Natural Gas powered generators are engineered to flawlessly synchronize with the multiple voltage and frequency requirements of the wide variety of OGV’s in service today. Once connected, the DFMV generator will operate in parallel with the vessel electrical system without any disruption to normal operations allowing for a seamless switch to clean shore-side electrical power," the company said in a statement.

The CAL DFMV Cold Ironing system is certified under the California Air Resources Board (CARB) Portable Equipment Registration Program (PERP) and is recognized by CARB as an alternative control technology meeting all criteria of the Equivalent Emissions Reduction option for compliance with the recently released Regulation To Reduce Emissions From Diesel Auxiliary Engines On Ocean-Going Vessels While At-Berth At A California Port. This regulation requires container, reefer, and passenger OGV’s to connect to clean shore-side electrical power whilst tied up at-berth in a California port.

"Our company will use the results of this test to develop and provide shore power supply sources in Port of Los Angeles, thereby helping reduce the burden on the environment", said MOL President Akimitsu Ashida.


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