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Yara and Wilhelmsen enter innovative environmental collaboration

30 Aug 2007 - Yara International ASA and the Wilhelmsen Maritime Services (WMS) subsidiary of Wilh. Wilhelmsen ASA are creating the Yarwil joint venture, and will use this vehicle to launch environmental solutions for the maritime market. This commitment shall help to reduce emissions in the shipping sector, and improve both the environment and human health. Yarwil will be owned 50-50 by Yara and WMS.
 
"We are Europe's leading producer of environmental products for NOx treatment, and already remove more NOx than Norway's total emissions of these substances," says President and CEO of Yara International ASA, Thorleif Enger.
 
The NOx removal process involves a known catalytic technology used today in land-based industry and transport, and on a number of coastal cargo vessels in Norway and Sweden. This concept is based on adding a special quality of urea solution to the hot exhaust fumes from the ship's engines. The mix then passes through a catalytic converter where NOx from the exhausts reacts with the urea solution and is turned into harmless water vapour and nitrogen.
 
Yarwil's technology will initially cover that part of the maritime market in which NOx emissions are governed by official regulations. In the short term, this means vessels engaged in trades typically conducted close to land, such as ferries, fishing vessels and supply ships. Cruise liners will also employ the technology.