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DFDS annual report 2009 Environmental report 43
Comparison of bunker consumption per unit
for older and modern/larger ships
Ship
Year built
Length,
metres
Deadweight,
tons
Lane
metres
Consumption
at 18 knots,
g/nm/lm
Tor Baltica 1977 169 9,700 1,870 58
Tor Selandia 1998 198 11,080 2,770 48
Tor Magnolia 2003 200 10,070 3,830 33
Tor Ficaria
(extended) 2006 230 14,600 4,650 29
Baltic Sea and the North Sea. In the longer term, rules will be introduced
that reduce sulphur content in bunker to 0.1 % in 2015.
New environmental technology
Technologies are also being developed to reduce the sulphur content
of bunker on board ships. DFDS is collaborating with Aalborg
Industries and MAN Diesel to develop a so-called “scrubber” that can
remove 98 % of sulphur and 70 % of the particles from emissions. In
2010, one such scrubber, which consists of approximately 30 tons of
heavy plant, will be tested as part of the exhaust system on Tor Ficaria.
If it lives up to expectations, the scrubber will be a significant tool
for reducing emissions of sulphur and particles, particularly in urban
areas. The method may also be an alternative to using bunker with
low sulphur content, as the scrubber is expected to be able to reduce
sulphur emissions to at least the same level.
NOx: Ships’ engines expel varying degrees of NOx (nitrogen oxides)
from combustion. These emissions are caused by the combustion temperature,
and newer engines are designed to operate at temperatures
that reduce NOx. Emissions are therefore reduced on modern ships
like Tor Fionia, Tor Jutlandia, Tor Corona and Tor Hafnia.
NOx emissions are a particular problem in and around ports.
Ships calling at terminals close to urban and residential areas in Oslo
and Copenhagen therefore use catalytic converters to purify smoke
from their auxiliary engines, which produce power for onboard
consumption.
Another way to reduce emissions of harmful substances while
in port is to use land-based sources of power. This is only possible
in ports that provide power through special coupling points on the
quay. This possibility is currently being assessed, e.g. in Gothenburg, in
collaboration with the port company. At the same time, several options
are being evaluated for environmentally friendly onboard power
generation.
2009. The latter is an as yet unratified international regulatory framework
designed to ensure responsible scrapping of ships. It is expected
to come into force in 2013. DFDS supports this convention and other
initiatives that, in the meantime, ensure that ships are scrapped in a
responsible fashion in relation to both the surrounding environment
and the working environment. This policy formed the basis for the sale
in early 2010 of a ro-ro ship, Tor Anglia, for scrap to the environmentally
certified Jiangmen Yinhu shipyard in China.
Battery-powered eco-friendly canal boats
DFDS’ subsidiary DFDS Canal Tours operates tour boats in the Port
of Copenhagen and the canals in the centre of the city. The engine
noise and exhaust fumes of the boats place a strain on the surrounding
urban environment, and DFDS has decided to develop and deploy
a battery-powered boat, which is recharged at night when the proportion
of environmentally friendly produced electricity is highest. The
first of these emission- and noise-free boats has been delivered and
will be operational from the start of the 2010 season. If the el-boat
lives up to expectations, ships of this type are expected gradually to
replace the existing boats.
Other priorities
Work is also being systematically carried out on the processing of
waste and sewage from ships under the rules of the countries in
which they dock. In addition, further work is being done to reduce
noise during calls and stays in port.
Certification
DFDS has subsidiaries in several countries in Northern Europe, and
does not currently have joint environmental certification for the whole
Group, but various forms of certification in the various companies.
DFDS has therefore decided to attain joint ISO 14001 environmental
certification. The process has already started on the ro-ro routes from
Gothenburg to Great Britain, Norway and the Continent. Once this
work has been completed, the certification will be gradually extended
to other parts of the Group.
Environmentally friendly scrap
It is DFDS’ policy to only sell ships for scrap when it can be guaranteed
that the scrapping will be in accordance with national and international
legislation, and in accordance with the intentions of the Hong
Kong Convention agreed under the auspices of the IMO in October