Damen Emission Reduction System – EU Stage V Certified

Netherlands’ Damen is the first shipyard to achieve official EU Stage V certification for its in-house developed emission reduction system. As a fact, numerous Damen vessels are operating in harbors and waterways that are close to or within urban areas. Hence, the group developed an emission reduction system to address the health issues from the particulate matter by diesel engines. Not to mention, the environmental impacts resulting from excess nitrogen oxides.

Emission Reduction System

The Damen Emission Reduction System (ERS) is a one-system-solution that combines soot filters with a selective catalytic reduction system (SCR). Thus, removing particulate matter (PM) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) as they leave the engine and before they enter the atmosphere. The system regulates PM by both mass and number, to ensure the reduction of fine particles as well.
Nevertheless, the ERS delivers substantial noise reduction that averages 45 dB(A).
With this achievement, Damen offers the proven ERS that meets the IMO Tier III, ULEV and EU stage V regulations.

According to the company, the ERS is a standard, proven system that is robust and reliable. It is suitable for both primary and auxiliary engines generating between 300-700 kW of output. Sea-going vessels equipped with ERS are eligible for obtaining the Ultra Low Emission Vessel (ULEV) classification notation. The development of the EU Stage V system began in 2017. This followed Damen achieving certification for its NOx reduction system to comply with IMO Tier III emissions regulations.

“It has taken six years to reach this point, but our ERS goes beyond the parameters set by the regulators to ensure that they are robust and flexible… For example, they are designed to work with all standard fuels to ensure worldwide operability, and their modular design means that they can be installed on all types of vessel, matched to the specific operating profile of each.”

Raymond Watson, Technology Specialist Aftertreatment Systems, Damen

Partnership with BV

To achieve certification, Damen partnered with Bureau Veritas (BV). The two organisations have been partners for many years and share the ambition of making the maritime industry more sustainable.

“We were very pleased to be working with Damen on this challenging project. We went through a challenging learning curve ­ and the result is a milestone in certification as there are very few certified Stage V compliant systems at present. It places both organisations at the forefront of maritime emissions reduction.”

Rik de Petter, Marine & Offshore Chief Executive Belgium & Luxembourg, BV

More to come

Damen is currently working on the certification of the ERS for multiple propulsion trains with outputs overcoming 4000 kW.
All will be available soon as IMO Tier III, ULEV and EU stage V certified systems.

Source: Damen

See also: Retrofitting a Carbon Capture and Storage System