Wilhelmsen Ships Service (WSS) has signed an agreement to supply boiler and cooling water dosing control units to ten 13,200 TEU newbuilds under construction at Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) Korea on behalf of Hapag-Lloyd.
Integral to the boiler and cooling water circulation systems, the units monitor water conditions to ensure a controlled chemical dosing regime is applied in the correct proportions. These units are particularly important due to the fact that the incorrect chemical dosing of boiler water can be expensive and potentially very dangerous.
Alun Goodman, WSS Technical Manager Chemicals for Europe and Scandinavia, said; “This agreement represents a significant investment in control technology on behalf of the customer, and delivers enhanced technology solutions and significant savings in terms of long-term asset protection.”
“WSS’s automated system also provides a reduced risk for ships’ crews in relation to chemical handling and Hapag-Lloyd has been a leader in adopting this kind of technology on board their fleet.”
Traditionally, ships’ engineers take regular samples of boiler water and then carry out an analysis of readings by using a manual chemical test. The test results are checked against recommended programme control charts and decisions are made regarding the quantities of chemicals which are added to keep the water in safe condition. However, the risk of human error in this process can sometimes lead to expensive mistakes.
Mr Goodman continues: “There are many advantages to using automated systems. The improved control of chemical dosing leads to fewer breakdowns as a result of incorrect protection levels, in addition to reduced expenditure on cleaning and servicing and less chance of inconsistent dosing. From a safety point of view, there is also less product handling, and a lower risk of human error.”
Since WSS acquired the Nalfleet brand at the beginning of 2011, the company has become more active in promoting automated boiler and cooling water treatment systems and will look to enhance the technology currently available in new systems under development in the future.
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World Maritime News Staff, January 24, 2012