The scrubber and the new regulations in the naval sector: the advantages for companies and the environment

The scrubber, a fundamental component of a system that allows you to clean the ship’s engine from the exhaust gases, seems to be one of the most popular solutions of recent times. It will be for the legislation that has just entered into force (1 January 2020), it will be for the collective stimulus to limit the environmental impact of the naval sector, but it seems that the time has come for concrete actions.

The IMO2020, the new regulation that limits polluting emissions from ships, came into force on January 1. Specifically, the obligation to reduce sulfur oxides by 85% will be implemented in order to limit the environmental repercussions of navigation and protect port and coastal areas. The naval sector has therefore mobilized to face the new predispositions by moving according to the solutions offered in the field: use low sulfur fuels or choose the installation of scrubbers.

This exhaust gas cleaning system has proven to be one of the most convincing options for many shipowners and according to some research it seems that by the end of the year 2020 there will be many ships equipped with scrubbers, ready to cross seas and oceans. After all, the advantages that this device brings with it are valid enough to erase any doubts and despite the initial investment that will have to be made, there is talk of an economic return in a very short time.

Nickel-plated materials: the ideal choice for the construction of scrubbers

Another important aspect to the advantage of this option is the research underlying the choice of scrubber construction materials. Since these are devices in constant contact with corrosion elements such as exhaust gas and water (humidity), the choice falls on nickel-plated materials.

Nickel has the metallurgical properties suitable to withstand external corrosion and oxidation agents. And for this reason, materials bonded with a certain amount of nickel are a practical solution to guarantee the strength and longevity of a product, such as the scrubber, over time. This means that with proper maintenance, it will not be necessary to intervene for sudden repairs or replacements of the system.

Nicro knows this well, who has approached the naval sector and scrubbers, designed by a leading Italian company in this sector.

Each project is developed ad hoc based on the ship on which the scrubber will be installed and Nicro manufactures its components using its experience in the processing of nickel alloys.

Some of the materials chosen appropriately for their properties are 254 SMO, Saf 2205 and Saf 2507, because:

• 254 SMO is an austenitic steel used specifically for products subjected to strong corrosion such as exposure to sea water;
• Saf 2205 (Duplex) and Saf 2507 (Superduplex) are duplex stainless steels (ferritic-aistenitic) with chemical composition based on chromium, nickel, molybdenum and other alloying elements (nitrogen and manganese); both have good corrosion resistance and are used for the construction of specific components.

In addition, Nicro has created a production area dedicated to the naval sector, which has been the company’s core business in recent years.

This new location allows the storage of the material dedicated to the scrubbers and ensures a faster and more complete production process, thanks to the synergy with the main factory; in fact, it will continue to produce the ferrules that make up the scrubbers to be transferred to the new plant for assembly, welding and final pickling, the final step carried out in an area specifically dedicated within the company, for better work management also on an environmental level.

A complete production line that will also guarantee the production of larger scrubbers for cargo ships in the future.