Alfa-Laval Establishes Presence Onboard World's Largest Liner

Swedish engineering company Alfa-Laval, which is known for its heat transfer and fluid handling will ensure that Cunard's Queen Mary 2 will be self-sufficient of fresh water - minimizing oily waste for disposal, thus reducing the oil level in the bilge water so that it can be discharged into the ocean.

Queen Mary 2, which is scheduled for delivery in 2003, will be built at Chantiers de l' Atlantique for Cunard Line. The vessel, which is being touted as the world's largest ocean liner, will be at a cost of approximately $700 million. It is expected to be not only the fastest, but the most environmentally friendly vessel of its time.

The 2,620 passenger vessel will be fitted with Alfa-Laval's fresh water self sufficiency, as well as a total solution for the treatment of fuel and lube, and a system for processing oil wastes on board so that negative environmental impacts are virtually eliminated.

QM2's water consumption has been estimated to approximately 1,000 tons/day - encompassing everything from drinking water to showers. The majority of water produced onboard is generated by three Alfa Laval Multiple Effect Plate (MEP) distillers. Each distiller can produce 630 tons of water per day by evaporation of sea water using waste heat from the ship's diesel engines as heating medium. The fresh water produced is of high quality having a salinity of less than five ppm.

The multiple effect, falling film distillers use a patented plate design combined with efficient feed water (sea water) distribution over the heating surfaces to provide thermal efficiency and minimize the risk for scaling.

In addition, Alfa Laval's newly developed separation units that will be used onboard Queen Mary 2, will treat marine fuel oils, gas oil and lube oils.