MAN PrimeServ Augsburg, MAN Energy Solutions’ after-sales division, has developed a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) solution that will be retrofitted onboard the MS ‘Amadea’, a cruise ship chartered by PHOENIX Reisen and managed by BSM Cruise Services. 

The retrofit devised by MAN PrimeServ Augsburg calls for the integration of two of MAN’s SCR systems, one each into both of the Amadea’s four-stroke MAN 7L58/64 propulsion-engines, to ensure maximum performance. Installation will begin in September 2021.

The retrofit reflects a general desire by PHOENIX to enhance its environmental friendliness and, more immediately, will enable the vessel to meet emission standards in the key Norwegian Heritage Fjord market. For the project, MAN PrimeServ prioritised keeping hazardous emissions to a minimum while maintaining engine performance and propulsion efficiency.

The MAN SCR solution will bring the Amadea’s engines from Tier 0 status to Tier III emission level, and will reduce NOx emissions by 90 per cent, equivalent to savings of 600 tons per annum. MAN’s SCR system is the greenest solution available on the market with the highest operational readiness and safety: the SCR will be available from just 15 per cent engine load, enabling clean operation, also during slow-sailing in the fjords as well as close to port and populated areas.

The fully modular SCR solution will be integrated into the Amadea’s engine-control system. With its closed-loop system and a weather station that uses environmental data, the NOx-reduction rate is maximised and ammonia-slip minimised to just 10 ppm, comparable to that of a car. Low ammonia slip is not just good because ammonia is a greenhouse gas and affects the climate, but also because it reduces urea consumption, enabling the urea-tank size to be reduced.

Alexander Schäfer, head of MAN PrimeServ Turbocharger & Exhaust Gas Treatment, said: “The concept of clean cruising is a major, coming trend within the cruise industry and the Amadea therefore runs on high-quality marine diesel-oil alone. With our SCR solution, PHOENIX and BSM are establishing themselves as trailblazers within the segment in terms of emission reduction. It is always a pleasure to be part of something extraordinary that benefits the environment.”

“We are currently experiencing an increasing number of requests from cruise and ferry companies that want to improve their green credentials and who desire to become sustainable without the need for legislation. We want these companies to know that we can support them, regardless of whether they intend to enter the Norwegian Heritage Fjords or not.