Page 40: of Marine News Magazine (May 2018)

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PROPULSION

Workboat Sector Workboat Sector

Sees Biggest Bang for Sees Biggest Bang for

VW Settlement BucksVW Settlement Bucks © tarasov_vl/AdobeStock

Tug and ferry engine upgrades represent the best bet for NOx Reductions as marine engine overhauls could come for some at 40% to 75% cost savings.

By Patricia Keefe hen it comes to ? nancing engine upgrades and Fund, tug, tow and ferry owners with qualifying NOx replacements using other people’s money – this is emissions reduction projects can get the job done at a sig-

W as good as it will ever get. That’s because the $2.9 ni? cantly reduced cost, the extent to which will depend on billion settlement fund Volkswagen agreed to capitalize for the engine upgrade option they choose, and whether the distribution across 50 states, tribal lands, and Puerto Rico, vessel is privately or publically owned. as a result of “dieselgate” – its criminal dodging of required In the latter case, projects are 100% funded. That’s why, auto emission levels – presents an unparalleled opportu- and how, Washington State is hoping to build, and pay for, nity to maritime companies that want to move their diesel three new all-electric ferries. Of? cials there estimate that a engines up a couple of EPA notches, and stick someone single such ferry could cut carbon dioxide emissions by 620 else with the bill. metric tons a year, the equivalent of taking about 132 cars

There is no better use of the funds than to clean up off the road. It also cuts fuel consumption 100 percent. marine diesel engines. That’s because in terms of tonnage In the former case, owners of commercial vessels run- of NOx reduction for dollars spent, the cleaning up of ning on pre-Tier 3 diesel engines can get back 40% of the marine diesel engines is the most cost-effective by virtue cost of installing a new Tier 3 or Tier 4 diesel or alternate of the number of hours they operate, the amount of fuel fuel engine, or by installing an EPA-certi? ed remanufac- consumed and the emissions pro? le of the engines cur- tured system or veri? ed engine upgrade, in this case mov- rently in use. ing pre-tier or Tier 1 engines to T2. According to the EPA,

Under the rules of the Volkswagen Mitigation Trust Tier 4 rules cut NOx by 80 percent and particulate matter

May 2018

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