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Wärtsilä, the marine industry's leading ship power system integrator, has announced that it will offer a Pollution Free Shaft Seal for the main propeller shafts free of charge when it installs its Wärtsilä Scrubber.

The announcement forms part of the company's decision to support the Baltic Sea Action Group in its rescue mission to save the Baltic Sea, where Wärtsilä says it is committed to implementing 'environmental promises'.

The offer of a free Pollution Free Shaft Seal is to five vessels operating in the Baltic Sea on a continuous basis.

"Wärtsilä's scrubber is the first and still the only certified technology available for reducing sulphur emissions as per the International Maritime Organization requirements," Wärtsilä said in a statement.

The pollution free seal being offered as part of the company's commitment prevents oil leakage from the propulsion shaft. With a conventional seal system normally such leakage can be as much as two litres of lubricating oil per shaft per day, according to Wärtsilä.

"With approximately 2000 vessels currently navigating the Baltic Sea at any given moment, and with traffic expected to increase to around 3500 vessels by 2015, the Wärtsilä seal can prevent literally thousands of litres of oil from seeping into the sea water," Wärtsilä said.

Speaking at the Baltic Sea Action Summit in Helsinki on February 10th, Christoph Vitzthum, Group Vice President, said "In Wärtsilä's R&D activities, the main focus is the environment. We develop solutions, products and services that reduce the environmental impact of sea transportation.

"In making this commitment to the Baltic Sea Action Group initiative, we want to highlight our know-how and long-term dedication to the shipping industry. These well targeted concrete actions provide a solid basis upon which operators active in the Baltic Sea can reduce their environmental footprint."

By providing consultancy services and training courses around its core expertise in the reduction of water and air emissions, Wärtsilä also aims to increase general awareness concerning environmental requirements and available solutions.