Carnival, RINA Test Emission-Reduction Technology

Emission-reduction technology has been successfully tested on Carnival Corporation's Holland America (HAL) ship, the Veendam. The tests were carried out jointly by Carnival Corporate Shipbuilding, HAL and RINA within a common R&D project. The technology is based on injecting water into fuel to create micro-droplets of emulsified fuel. Two pilot units were built and retrofitted on board Veendam. They were tested in accordance with an on board testing protocol developed by RINA. Mario Dogliani, Innovation & Research Manager of RINA, the Italian classification society, said the results of the weeklong tests were extremely successful. "There was significant reduction of visible smoke and emissions from the diesel engines as well as a decrease in fuel consumption. Sludge oil was also efficiently burned in the boiler, reducing emissions and without producing visible smoke," he said. According to Jim Drager, Carnival Corporation's Vice President of Corporate Shipbuilding, "The undertaking of this technology development is a further demonstration of Carnival's commitment to working with companies to develop new technology aimed at protecting the environment." Water-fuel emulsification has been known to be very efficient in reducing emission since the late 1970s. The technology has not been practical, however, because the fuel and water soon separated. But according to Mike Novak, Holland America Line's Vice President Marine Operations, the new micro-droplet emulsified fuels "are very stable and these tests demonstrate they can be used effectively and safely." Novak pointed out that the water that was utilized for the tests came from the Zenon waste water treatment plant. "In other words, we use potable water for hotel services and then, after treatment, we re-use it to lower emissions." he explained. This state-of-the-art, micro-emulsion technology has been patented in the European Union nations, United States and Japan by Ing. Ernesto Marelli, CEO and owner of Mec System, an Italian company and partner in the R&D project. It was initially developed to produce micro-emulsified fuels for land-based thermal plants and for public bus transportation. The transfer of this technology to the maritime field was undertaken by Mec System, Cadel Srl, RINA and Carnival Corporate Shipbuilding. The same pilot unit is being tested by WARTSILA in their land-based VAASA laboratory as part of the SAVENVSHIP R&D project. Additional testing and evaluation will continue and Carnival Corporation will equip several ships in its other operating companies with pilot units for additional testing. "We expect to obtain further enhancements by fine tuning the diesel engine for optimal exploitation of micro-emulsion fuel technology," said Renato Storari, Carnival Corporate Shipbuilding's manager of this project. "It is an exciting new development and the entire maritime shipping industry can benefit from this technology."