APL Tests Innovative Technology to Cut Air Pollution from Containerships

A new pollution-control technology for ships may become an industry standard following an exciting pilot project starting in February aboard the 5,100-TEU containership APL Singapore.

Using a device known as the water-in-fuel emulsifier, water is mixed with marine diesel fuel just before the fuel is injected into the engine, which could reduce nitrogen oxides – a principal component of smog – by as much as 20% or more. Emissions of particulate matter could also be lowered.

Preliminary results should be available by the second quarter of this year. If they show that the technology is effective, APL could install the emulsifier on other ships. In addition, Danish-based MAN Diesel, the world’s largest manufacturer of marine engines and maker of the APL Singapore’s main engine, has said it would consider including the machinery with its equipment if results are positive.

In addition, the test will also include evaluating additional pollution-control devices installed on the APL Singapore’s fuel injectors. Known as slide valves, they prevent fuel leakage during combustion, leading to a more complete fuel burn and reduced emissions.

The test will begin on a voyage of the APL Singapore from Kaohsiung (Taiwan) to Los Angeles and Oakland (California) in February. Emissions will be monitored with various ratios of water to fuel, and also at various levels of engine power. It’s estimated that for every 1% of water, nitrogen oxides are reduced by the same amount. The study will test water contents of up to 25%.

Once the vessel reaches Los Angeles, the slide valves will be installed on the engine’s fuel injectors. The research team will then continue monitoring emissions on the leg to Oakland to see how much more pollution is reduced by the slide valves.

The US$1.3-million research is co-sponsored by several public entities, including the US Environmental Protection Agency, the California Air Resources Board, four local California air-quality districts and the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. The APL Singapore will continue using the emulsifier whenever it’s in California waters. California is a world leader in working with companies to reduce pollution.

This test marks the beginning of a three-year evaluation of the fuel emulsifier, where APL will study the effects of the water-in-fuel mixture on the APL Singapore’s engine. Mixing water with fuel is counter-intuitive, and some suggest it could corrode engine parts over time. The long-term test will determine if water in fuel is indeed compatible with marine engines.

Using the fuel emulsifier and slide valves is part of a broader APL strategy for reducing air pollution. Also recently installed on the APL Singapore is a next-generation lubrication system that could reduce the burning of cylinder oil by 20 to 50%.

In accordance with California regulations in effect since 1 January 2007, APL is also using low-sulfur diesel fuel in its ships’ auxiliary engines while vessels are in California waters.

APL has numerous other pollution control initiatives underway. Among them are a program to replace older yard tractors in container terminals with newer, more environment-friendly models; the use of bio-diesel fuel for yard tractors and mobile container-handling equipment; electric ship cranes; an expanding collection of more than 2,400 electrical plugs instead of diesel generators for refrigerated containers at US West Coast terminals; strong support of the voluntary speed reduction program in Los Angeles Harbor; and experiments with a chemical-free organic enzyme that improves combustion of heavy fuel oil, thereby reducing pollution.