How Variable Geometry Turbocharger for Marine Engines Works?

In order to draw the highest efficiency from marine engines, they must be run at the highest rated RPM. However, with several norms, traffic rules, fuel efficiency factor etc., marine engines cannot always be operated at high speed. As the RPM of the engine reduces, the air supply from the turbocharger also reduces, starving the combustion space of air and resulting in improper combustion and increased fuel consumption. To counter this problem, auxiliary blowers are fitted. These blowers come into action at particular low loads.
Variable Geometry Turbocharger or Variable Turbine Angle (VTA) Turbocharger is the solution for supplying sufficient scavenge air to marine engine’s cylinder at all load ranges. Let’s find out what is VTA and how does it works.

What is Variable Geometry Turbocharger or VTA?

DNV GL and SDARI introduce new Green Dolphin bulk carrier concept

DNV GL and Shanghai Merchant Ship Design & Research Institute (SDARI) have introduced the Green Dolphin 575 concept design for a handymax bulk carrier. This second design builds on the success of the handysize Green Dolphin 38 for which around 80 orders have been placed with the major share to DNV GL class. Green Dolphin 575 aims to be fuel and energy efficient, robust and reliable, operationally flexible and able to meet current and future environmental regulations. It uses technologies that are already available for commercial use, so it can meet ship owners’ current needs in tight market conditions.

The Green Dolphin 575 is a 190m long Common Structural Rules (CSR) compliant handymax bulk carrier with five cargo holds. It is available in single hull standard or double-hull (open hatch) configurations.

Why are 10-year-old vessels essential to shipping analysis?

Older vessel prices are another indicator that reflects shipping companies’ fundamentals. Because these vessels are sold and bought in the secondary market, it doesn’t take as long for the buyer to receive these vessels. So changes in price for older vessels often reflect a nearer-term fundamental outlook, and they tend to move ahead of new builds.

Wärtsilä expands its portfolio with two new auxiliary engines

Wärtsilä, the marine industry’s leading provider of innovative products, solutions and services, is expanding its engine portfolio with the introduction of two additional auxiliary engines, the Wärtsilä Auxpac 16 and the Wärtsilä Auxpac 32.

New ICS initiative to maintain IMO primacy on shipping AND CO2 issues

The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) – the worldwide trade association for shipowners – has made an important written submission to the United Nations International Maritime Organization (IMO) suggesting a possible way forward with respect to complex discussions about additional global regulations to further reduce CO2 emissions from merchant ships.
 

In particular, ICS wishes to ensure the primacy of a global IMO framework for addressing the reduction of shipping’s CO2 emissions in the face of proposals by the European Commission for unilateral regional regulations that will apply to international shipping trading to the EU. 
 
In a carefully worded ‘political’ paper, ICS has suggested that IMO Member States should initially focus on developing regulations for the mandatory reporting of fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by internationally trading ships, deferring further discussions on how the information collected might subsequently be used to develop additional efficiency measures.
 

Wartsila Completes Testing of Brand New 2-Stroke Dual-Fuel Engine Technology

The biggest service provider in the maritime business, Wartsila, introduced a completely new 

brand of vessel engines, which are based on well-proven and established low pressure

 technology. Wartsila successfully completed tests with the new 2-stroke dual-fuel engines on

 gas.

The 1st of the Wartsila's engines, RT-flex50DF is scheduled to be delivered by the end of 

2014. The implications of the new Wartsila engines are for the vessel operators and owners 

are going to be referred to as a game-changer for merchant shipping. The other series of the 

brand new engines of Wartsila, the X-series are scheduled to be ready for delivery in 2015 

and 2016.





Both new 2-stroke engines of Wartsila are going to be dual-fuel (DF) low pressure versions.

 The brand new Wartsila engines will offer capital expenditure reductions (CAPEX) of 15-20

 per cent, revealed studies. This results will be achieved by substantially lower and much 

simpler cost of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and gas handling system, which operates at 

pressure, working under 10 bars. Which is really impressive with the new engines technology is

 that there are no needed cleaning systems for exhaust gases to meet any emission 

regulations. The brand new Wartsila engines are constructed to meet IMO Tier III emissions

 compliant in gas mode and to cover the Tier II minimum level with liquid natural gas
.
In addition, there will be considerable gains on the operating expenditure (OPEX) side with the

 new engine technology of Wartsila. This OPEX will be due to the otioseness of the external 

high pressure compression system for gas and the NOx abatement system on the ship will be

 no longer required. The new technology of the engines makes the gas operation across the 

whole load range stable. Due to this, there will be no longer needed to switch to diesel as is the

 current case with other ship technologies. Furthermore, the fuel consumption of the technology

 is only 1% of the entire fuel amount, and therefore pretty much lower compared to other 

technologies.



The new engine low pressure system for gas of Wartsila fulfils all the safety requirements

. Since gas technology with low pressure is the standard for all four-stroke engine makers 

today, the merit of this concept is clearly proven.

“The benefits of the new low pressure dual-fuel technology for 2-stroke engines are significant. 

Describing this as a game-changing development for merchant shipping is certainly no 

exaggeration, since the many advantages of being able to use gas and LNG as primary fuel 

are now, for the first time ever, available to virtually all vessel types. Our well proven 

technologies for both the engines and the onboard gas and LNG handling systems, can now be

 applied to this wider market. With the adaption of low pressure dual-fuel technology to 2-stroke

 engines, Wärtsilä brings the proven advantages it has demonstrated in the 4-stroke, medium-

speed DF engine market to its 2-stroke low speed engine customers,” says Mr Martin Wernli, 

Vice President, 2-stroke, Wärtsilä Ship Power.

The spokesperson of Wartsila announced that the company is currently in finalising all required

 documents for the 1st of its brand new engine types, the Wartsila RT-flex50DF. Furthermore, 

the Classification Society approvals preparations are underway.

Cocaine worth £136m found among bananas

The biggest shipment of cocaine for the last two years has been caught in the Hampshire, UK

. Border Force officers together with the National Crime Agency found 850kg 80% pure drugs

 with an estimated value of £136m if sold on the street.

The massive shipment was found onboard MV Crown Jade, a Panamanian vessel, hidden 

between bananas cargo. The ship was sailing from Colombia and according to an officer from

 the NCA's border policing command, Tom Dowdall, this was a ''major blow''.

Retrofit Solutions for Exhaust Gas and Water Cleaning by WARTSILA

Upcoming environmental regulations will affect existing vessels, and as a consequence there is a growing demand for exhaust gas cleaning and ballast water treatment systems.

Retrofitting both scrubbers and ballast water management systems is – or will soon be – required for many ships to comply with regulations. There are retrofit solutions available across all ship types, from cruise vessels to merchant and offshore ships. Space requirement is usually the most critical factor when planning and executing a retrofit project but Wärtsilä has found solutions to the challenge.

The execution of retrofit projects for both scrubbers and ballast water management systems requires similar types of planning and engineering. There are typically three things that are analysed when planning a retrofit of exhaust gas or a water cleaning system. First, the space requirements of the system are analysed, taking into consideration the available space in the vessel. Next, engineers study the impact of the additional systems in terms of their weight, ship stability in case of scrubber systems, structural modifications, and relocation of any existing equipment inside the ship. Finally, engineers assess how to further optimise the installation method, with the aim of minimising costs and downtime during installation.

“Retrofitting exhaust gas or ballast water cleaning systems is feasible for all ship types – but how it is done can vary depending on the ship type. Finding space for the system is the most common challenge. When it comes to scrubber installations, we, for example, sometimes need to make changes in the funnel shape or rethink the use of spaces in the vessel to create more room for cleaning systems. However, we have not come across any project in which retrofitting would not be possible. It is just a matter of identifying the best solution or compromise with the ship owner,” says Leonardo Sonzio, Director Retrofit, Wärtsilä Environmental Solutions.

Indian man collapses at Sharjah Airport, dies later in hospital

22-year-old-sailor was about to board a flight home to Chennai early this month.

Abu Dhabi: The body of a 22-year-old Indian sailor has been lying in a mortuary in Sharjah for two weeks and his family is still in the dark about their son’s sudden demise, XPRESS has learnt.

H2S gas affects sea man

An accident happened on loading the cargo in chemical tanker.The crude had to load CST (crude sulphate turpentine),2000 tonnes. The MARPOL annex II gives a category X to the CST.
       The crew members were explained  onboard before loading but not perfectly or exactly with this type of cargo,they strictly fallowed all procedures and check list, including P&A and SMS of the tanker.

     The chief officer gave prior instruction  and arrival but the MSDS were missing and the cargo hazards were not explained properly.