Wartsila has launched its new IQ Series, the latest advancement in maritime exhaust gas treatment technologies, featuring several improvements that make the technology especially well-suited to container vessels, satisfying the increased demand in scrubbers as a compliance option from the container market segment.

Designed by the company’s Exhaust Treatment business unit in Moss, Norway, The IQ Series scrubber uses an innovative design that allows the same exhaust gas cleaning results to be achieved within a smaller footprint.

The scrubber takes up 25 per cent less space, is 30 per cent lighter, and has 35 per cent less volume, which minimises the impact on a vessel’s cargo-carrying capacity and, therefore, its profitability. This makes the new scrubber particularly beneficial on container ships, where space is a key commercial priority.

Additionally, the scrubber – which can be configured to use between 20 and 70 MW of power depending on vessel requirements – features the same modular design as Wartsila Exhaust Treatment’s other exhaust gas cleaning solutions.

This means that the IQ Series can be upgraded with further technologies that enable other pollutants to be tackled within the stack, including exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) to cut NOx, a black carbon filter to cut particulate matter (PM), a depluming unit to cut visible steam from the stack, and even a carbon capture and storage (CCS) module that Wartsila is currently developing in its Moss test facility.

IQ Series is also a more environment-friendly option for owners and operators looking at the impact of their investment decisions, with Wartsila manufacturing the technology using 50 per cent recycled steel.

Commenting on the launch of IQ Series, Sigurd Jenssen, Director, Wartsila Exhaust Treatment, said: "We believe that this new scrubber features several technology improvements that make it an obvious and front-running compliance option for interested owners and operators. We have particularly designed IQ Series with our container segment customers in mind.

He said there is huge demand in the container market for exhaust gas cleaning solutions that enable compliance and have a minimal impact on the profitability of the vessel.

"That’s why we have brought to market this new design that is lighter, smaller and less voluminous, enabling us to respond to what our customers are asking for, while also maintaining the same high-quality engineering and results they expect from Wartsila," he added.

By choosing a Wartsila scrubber, owners and operators will benefit from a full-lifecycle technology solution, as well as the organisation’s extensive lifecycle support, services and spare parts network.