Since January 2021, the IMO III nitrogen oxides (NOx) legislation that already applies to commercial vessels has been extended to marine leisure vessels above 24m load line length, which navigate in US waters as well as the North and Baltic Seas. Providing another step towards increased sustainability in the industry, the 2021 legislation is aimed at reducing emissions. To comply, affected yachts now need to be fitted with a Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) after-treatment system. This has led Volvo Penta to work on an optimized solution for its yacht customers both for IPS and traditional inboard shaft installations.
Offering reduced emissions and increased fuel efficiency, Volvo Penta says the new solution – the D13 IPS1200-1350 and shaft installations – draws on the company’s experience from commercial IMO III products and extensively-tested Volvo Group technology. The solution has already been said to prove itself in tough marine conditions having undergone more than 65,000 hours of field-testing at sea. Volvo says the system is built to handle high sulfur fuel (up to 1000 ppm) and cope with high back pressure while maintaining engine efficiency and drivability.
Additional information
– Compact and flexible: Volvo Penta says its IMO Tier III solution is the most compact on the market making the transition to IMO III compliance simple. The design means existing Volvo Penta IPS-powered yachts will be able to fit the system without engine room alterations. Together with a patent-pending flexible and modular outlet, the SCR system can be installed in both a vertical and horizontal position, making it an even more versatile solution.
– Fully integrated: Designed, developed and manufactured by Volvo Penta, providing streamlined aftermarket support.
– No need for service: Volvo’s SCR system does not require service and has the same life span as the engine it is coupled with.
– Same or better fuel efficiency: The engine maker says it has fulfilled IMO III targets while reducing fuel consumption – despite exhaust backpressure – providing unchanged power output.
– Switchable between EPA III and IMO III compliance: Tthe new VP system is designed to allow a switch between EPA III and IMO III compliance – ensuring flexibility when using the boat in regions with different emission legislations.
“We have gained a lot of experience during the years of designing after-treatment systems within the Volvo Group and for our industrial and Marine Commercial offerings,” says Björn Rönnvall, Product Manager, Marine Leisure, Volvo Penta. “This has enabled us to fine-tune the solution – extending its lifespan, maintaining and even bettering its fuel consumption, and delivering all this and more in a compact, flexible package.” He continued, “Ultimately, we want to make this transition as simple as possible for our marine yacht customers – supporting them and the ocean environment we all love.”
