NYK unveils how it plans to get its car carriers to comply with new Californian emissions rules
A giant black pipe will be inserted into the funnels of Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK) car carriers calling at ports in California from next year.
NYK has contracted American firm STAX Engineering to use its emissions capture and control technology to recover exhaust gases from ships at berth in response to the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) expanded exhaust emission regulations for vessels calling at ports in the state. The contract is going to cost NYK up to $16m.
Emissions capture and control technology uses steel pipes and hoses to connect a barge, or a land-based exhaust-gas treatment system to a vessel’s funnel, allowing exhaust gases to be captured without venting into the air. This technology makes capturing and controlling exhaust gases possible without installing additional equipment on the vessel.
In 2014, CARB mandated that containerships, passenger ships, and other vessels calling at California ports reduce their emissions of nitrogen oxides, reactive gases, carbon dioxide, particulate matter, and diesel particulate matter while at berth. CARB plans to add car carriers and tankers to this regulation in 2025.
