Chinese diesel engine emission requirements tighten

China Maritime Safety Administration’s new emissions requirements came into force from 1 August 2020.

These are akin to the tough emission requirements of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s Tier 4 rules for particle and gaseous emissions.

China’s new rules are also thought to be more stringent than IMO’s Tier III emission requirements from marine diesel engines, which are due to begin in January 2021.

China GB15097 regulation – commonly known as C1 and C2 – includes limits for particulate matter (PM) and NOx emissions.

This nation’s Statutory Technical Rules for The Inspection of Domestic Seaway Ships is now being formally enforced by the China Maritime Safety Administration.

According to engine manufacturer MAN Energy Solutions, GB15097 will require the exhaust emissions of all domestic, seaway, medium-speed, diesel engines to follow Chinese C1/C2 emission rules.

MAN said this new legislation will primarily apply to domestic bulk carriers, feeder container ships, oil tankers, passenger roros and government vessels. It will also cover domestic harbour vessels, such as tugs.

These regulations apply to Category 1 marine engines, which are rated above 37 kW in power and per-cylinder displacement of less than 5 litres.

Category 2 marine engines have power of more than 2,000 kW and per-cylinder displacement of more than 5 litres and less than 30 litres.

There are limits to PM, carbon monoxide and NOx emissions for diesel engines, and methane slip for dual-fuel engines.

MAN Energy Solutions highlighted these changes in Chinese emissions regulations as it announced contract awards for engines for various ship types.

Its Chinese licence partner, CMP secured a series of contracts to supply small-bore, four-stroke diesel engines for inland and coastal vessels.

“These are the first C1-compliant orders of their type and represent an important milestone for MAN within the Chinese river and coastal segment,” said MAN head of small-bore, four-stroke engineering Finn Fjeldhøj.

These contracts were for MAN 21/31, 27/38 and 23/30H type engines.

Mr Fjeldhøj said CMP developed performance and deterioration tests for the required certification.

“With the introduction of C1 and C2, we identified – in close co-operation with our Chinese licensees – the business potential in the Chinese inland market, prepared a business case, and initiated the appropriate design and performance test measures to make our engines compliant,” said Mr Fjeldhøj.

CMP recently gained an order to provide engines and generators for a 15,000 dwt shuttle tanker currently, under construction by Qidong COSCO Shipping Engineering Co for Shanghai Beihai Shipping Co.

This tanker will be supplied with a 6S35ME-B9.5 IMO Tier II main engine and three 6L27/38 generator sets and one 5L21/31 genset. These gensets and engine are scheduled for delivery by the end of October 2020.

CMP also secured an order for two 23/30H engines and three 5L23/30H C1-compliant gensets for two 52,000 dwt bulk carriers. Engines are due to be delivered in May 2021.

MAN also reported how CMP was working on several, different bulk and roro C1-compliant projects, mostly with MAN 23/30 applications.

MAN Energy Solutions will be discussing engine solutions and emissions compliance for different vessel types during Riviera Maritime Media’s Marine Propulsion Webinar Week, from 30 September. Use this link to gain more details and to register to these webinars