Color Line to futureproof ropax ferries with hybrid scrubber upgrade

Wärtsilä will upgrade the exhaust treatment system on board four vessels in Norwegian operator Color Line’s fleet by adding closed-loop functionality to the ships’ current open-loop scrubbers.

Wärtsilä said, “As maritime’s drive for energy efficiency and emissions reductions become ever more urgent, shipowners and operators, such as Color Line, are seeking solutions which will help them to optimise vessel performance and reach sustainability targets. The upgrade to a hybrid scrubber system on board these ships will give Color Line control over any abatement from the scrubber wash water, ensuring its vessels remain compliant with tightening regulations.”

“This scrubber upgrade supports our focus on minimising the environmental impact of our operations. Switching to Wärtsilä’s system will not only ensure our continued compliance with existing rules and regulations, but will also future-proof our vessels against future requirements,” said Color Line marine executive vice president Per Erik Olsen.

Wärtsilä’s hybrid scrubber systems feature the latest in exhaust cleaning technology, thus minimising sulphur oxide (SOx) emissions and allowing the vessel to comply with emission control regulations around the world. The solution, which has the flexibility to operate in both open and closed loop using seawater to remove SOx from the exhaust, removes 98% of SOx emissions. This also reduces nitrogen oxide and particulate matter emissions.

The upgrade will be carried out on two large ropax and two high-speed ropax vessels, which sail between Norway and Denmark, and Norway and Germany, and will commence at the end of 2024.