The World's First Installation of Low Pressure EGR system into a Bulk Carrier constructed by The Hakodate Dock Co., Ltd. - Carrying out verification test using a low speed two-stroke diesel engine complied with IMO NOx Tier III regulation

Tokyo, Japan, August 31, 2015 - Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Marine Machinery & Engine Co., Ltd. and Mitsubishi Kakoki Kaisha, Ltd.(Head office: Kawasaki, Japan, President: Toshikazu Takagi) installed the Low Pressure EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) system into a 34,000DWT Bulk Carrier constructed by The Hakodate Dock Co., Ltd. (the owner is Shikishima Kisen K.K.) and hereafter will carry out verification test. This Low Pressure EGR system was developed under the ClassNK's "Joint R&D for Industry Program" scheme. At shop test, we confirmed that NOx (Nitrogen Oxides) emission performance was able to adapt the IMO (International Maritime Organization) NOx Tier III regulation(*). And at the following sea trial, we also confirmed various performances as a whole system. Hereafter we will carry out verification tests in commercial voyages further. Installation of the Low Pressure EGR system that recirculates exhaust gas emitted from a turbocharger is the world's first effort for marine low speed two-stroke diesel engine.

The MHI-MME's Low Pressure EGR system is the one that suppresses generation of NOx by changing combustion condition inside an engine by means of recirculating a part of low pressure exhaust gas emitted from an engine turbocharger outlet (recommended branch point is the outlet of exhaust gas economizer/boiler) to a turbocharger intake after treatment by the EGR scrubber. Its advantage is that it keeps both initial and running costs lower than a high pressure EGR system which utilizes high temperature and high pressure exhaust gas from a turbocharger intake.During a long-term verification test, we will also confirm and evaluate the availability of caustic soda, sludge disposal handling process and so on in collaboration with NYK Bulk & Projects Carriers Ltd. (the operator) / Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha besides Shikishima Kisen K.K. We will improve the whole system and prepare for the near future based on the field service results, expanding Tier III market.

Amid recent mounting concerns about environment, MHI-MME has already developed the Low Pressure SCR system, which means that along with the system, consequently MHI-MME has two-way technologies adapted to IMO NOx Tier III for marine low speed two-stroke diesel engine.

We will keep developing the environmental technologies strongly and contribute to the reduction of world-wide maritime environmental burdens.

[Note] the IMO NOx Tier III regulation
The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) was adopted at IMO for the purpose of the prevention of pollution of the marine environment by ships. MARPOL Annex VI entered into force on 19 May 2005, then the amendment of the Annex VI was adopted at the MEPC58 (58th Marine Environment Protection Committee) held in October 2008 and entered into force on 1 July 2010. Now Tier II regulation is applied to ships keel laid on or after 1 January 2011. The Tier III regulation, which provides the reduction of the NOx emission by approximately 76% compared to the Tier II regulation within ECA (Emission Control Area), will be applied to ships keel laid on or after 1 January 2016.