Danish IT start-up Explicit and FORCE Technology joined forces to develop a new solution that quickly and cost-effectively measures the amount of sulphur in a ship’s exhaust – even at open sea.
Shipowners can save hundreds of thousands of kroner by not using the environmentally friendly fuel oil required by law, for instance when sailing from St. Petersburg to the English Channel. One major reason for this is that the relevant checks are not yet fully in place, so only a few ships are inspected.
As a result of a cooperation with the Danish company Explicit it is now possible to use drones and helicopters to measure the emission of SO2 and NOx from ships. With the new measuring method, it is possible to measure the emission of sulphur dioxides and nitrogen oxides directly in the fuel fan from ships at open sea.
The "sniffer"
Explicit developed the software and hardware, while we selected and tested the sensors for the project. The solution, called a sniffer, can be applied on a drone or helicopter. Ships are localized using AIS positions data, and the sniffer analyses the exhaust and transmits the results to a centralised platform.
As an independent third-party we are capable of evaluating the result, and give advice on future actions. Traditionally, fuel samples are taken when the ships are docked.
Visit the Explicit homepage for more information about the “sniffer” service.
Global sulphur cap
IMO has agreed to a global sulphur cap of 0.50 % in fuel oil for ships. By 1 January 2020 all ships must use fuel oil complying with the global sulphur cap.
In Emisison Control Areas (ECAs) the sulphur cap is even lower. Within the ECAs all ships are only allowed to use low-sulphur fuel with a content below 0.1 %.
The Baltic and North Seas as well as the coastal waters around the US and Canada are designated ECAs under the international MARPOL Annex VI convention for the prevention of pollution from ships.
Reach out to Marcus Levin for more information.