PANASIA on the verge of commercializing new version of scrubber 

Held in London last month, the 70th session of the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) covered a wide range of pressing topics. Among those that drew the most attention was the Ballast Water Treatment (BWT) and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions and Air Pollution Convention. As the implementation date was moved up to 2020 for the new sulfur oxide (SOx) limit for ships operating outside emission control areas (ECAs), demand for SOx scrubbers is expected to start growing soon.  

This is definitely good news for manufacturers of de-SOx scrubbers. PANASIA, a supplier and manufacturer of de-SOx scrubbers, is preparing for the changing market while getting ready to commercialize its latest scrubber PaSOx™ (V2).

In 2014, PaSOx™ successfully completed the pilot test as an auxiliary engine used on board PANASIA’s test barges. It demonstrated remarkable performance by removing over 98% of the SOx, meeting the 0.1%S requirement in the ECAs. 

To create a cast study during the development of this technology, PANASIA also built a proprietary system on which it could test actual gas emissions control on an operating ship. Also called “Emission Gas Cleaning System Pilot Test Facility,” this system was designed to allow PANASIA to perform the test sequentially, from de-NOx system “PaNOx” to the PaSOx scrubber. Through the simulation of operating conditions for 2-stroke and 4-stroke engines, the system is ready for tests that can be carried out in ways that meet varying customer needs. It will be used as a key benchmark in the development of technologies necessary for the development and manufacturing of additional equipment.

According to a source in the shipbuilding industry, “As environmental regulations tighten, a new market emerges for environmentally friendly equipment and materials. Since this has resulted in increasing capital expenditures (CAPEX), we are hoping to increase demand for new ships in the long run by shortening the period during which existing ships are to be scrapped.” The source then added, “The Korean shipbuilding and marine industries are facing a severe downturn right now. For them to gain a competitive edge, we are going to need close cooperation among the government, industry, and academia in developing environmentally-friendly technologies.