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The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), through its Maritime Innovation and Technology (MINT) Fund, is providing S$2 million to co-fund a project for the test-bedding and type approval of CSNOxTM, a locally developed technology that reduces greenhouse gas and exhaust pollutants from ship emissions. The CSNOxTM system was developed by Ecospec Global Technology Pte Ltd (Ecospec), a local research and technology company specialising in advanced emission reduction technology. The CSNOxTM system, if successfully tested and type approved under IMO requirements, could potentially contribute to global efforts in reducing pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from ships. The CSNOxTM test-bedding project is supported under the $100 million MINT Fund set up in 2003 to support research, development and test-bedding of maritime technologies by universities, research institutes and companies in Singapore. Two of the research and development areas under the MINT Fund are 'clean energy' and 'environment technology'. The co-funding for the CSNOxTM test-bedding project comes under these areas. According to Ecospec, the CSNOxTM system not only reduces carbon dioxide (CO2), sulphur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emitted by ships, but achieves all these in one process and in a single system. The scrubbing by CSNOxTM is also said to be achieved at a net carbon reduction, without acidifying the ocean, and with no other secondary pollutants or harmful substances discharged into the sea. "CSNOx is the first solution to remove CO2 in a cost effective manner and also has the potential for land-based applications, such as in incinerators, power plants and refineries," MPA said in a statement. In June and July 2009, Ecospec received Product Design Assessment and Product Type Approval respectively for its ULFELS Generator ULF01, the alkaline water-generating unit that is the main component of CSNOxTM from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS). Together with an appropriately designed abator tower, the CSNOxTM scrubber system will now undergo ship board testing for subsequent type approval in accordance with IMO requirements. Mr Chew Hwee Hong, Managing Director and Founder of Ecospec said, "We are delighted to receive S$2 million co-funding from MPA under its MINT Fund programme to conduct test-bedding of CSNOxTM onboard a ship. The funding helps support a priceless opportunity for a 'completely developed in Singapore' breakthrough technology to penetrate the global maritime industry. Ecospec shares the same aim as MPA, which is to enable the maritime industry to go green via commercially-viable marine emission-reduction technology."