Wilhelmsen has announced plans to equip vessel crews with handheld fuel analysis systems to allow them to accurately test the sulphur content of vessel fuel and ensure compliance with upcoming ship emissions regulations.
The company’s will supply seafarers with maritime handheld XRF spectrometers from Hitachi High-Tech Analytical Science, following the agreement of a new contract between the firms.
The project has been initiated to ensure compliance with the IMO’s 0.5% global sulphur cap on marine fuels, set to come into force on 1 January 2020, with Wilhelmsen suggesting that the ability to perform quick lab-quality fuel testing will soon become an operational necessity for crews and authorities.
“Partnering with Hitachi High-Tech Analytical Science, one of the leading fuel testing specialists, enables us to provide our customers (with) what we believe will become an absolutely essential tool ahead of IMO 2020,” said Jonas Östlund, Product Marketing Manager, Oil and Water, Marine Products, Wilhelmsen Ships Service.
“Crews will be able to eliminate the risk of accidental non-compliance. As vessels approach Emission Control Areas (ECAs) with a lower 0.1% permissible sulphur content limit, the engine room can immediately and accurately test the sulphur content of the fuel flowing to the engines after changeover and ensure it is compliant.”
“No hassle testing, onboard and on demand (with) Hitachi High-Tech’s XRF analysers, along with their industry leading expertise and technical support, will make navigating the new fuel sulphur regulations, while not quite plain sailing, far less of a burden.”
The X-MET8000 handheld XRF analyser to be used by Wilhelmsen complies with a variety of sulphur testing methods, and comes with an embedded GPS to pinpoint exactly where the analysis was performed.
The system can also be linked to the Cloud for data sharing, to assist in sending data to required authorities while also supporting further analysis.
