Alfa Laval Ltd - Experts & Thought Leaders

The event, hosted by Alfa Laval, takes place online on 15 October from 9 to 11:15 am CET. Industry professionals are invited to join and gain insights from thought pioneers on key topics relating to the maritime industry. As achieving net zero targets climbs to the top of the maritime industry agenda, the Marine Innovation Summit 2024 allows the Marine industry to connect with industry experts as they unravel the route to sustainable shipping. Sustainable shipping The Summit will discuss transformative trends, including digitalisation, port operations, connectivity, routing, artificial intelligence, and much more. Participation in the event is free and registration is open. The event will be broadcast live from Alfa Laval’s head office in Lund, Sweden, and Shanghai, China at 9:00 am CET. Decarbonisation, innovation, and AI The potential impact of AI on shipping practices, strategies for achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 The Marine Innovation Summit is a forum that convenes experts across the industry to discuss the advancements in the global maritime industry that accelerate the transition towards sustainable shipping. Discussions will focus on key themes such as difficulties in reducing emissions in ports and exploring actionable solutions, the potential impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on shipping practices, strategies for achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 and driving sustainable innovation through collaboration. Sustainable future “Engaging in forward-thinking discussions with the maritime experts is essential for accelerating the industry’s journey towards a sustainable future,” says Sameer Kalra, President, Marine Division, Alfa Laval. “By exploring key topics and gaining insights from experts, we deepen our understanding of the industry and equip ourselves to navigate the transition necessary for decarbonising our oceans.” Distinguished speakers and panelists to drive discussions Marine Innovation Summit 2024 will bring together a diverse group of industry pioneers, including representatives The Marine Innovation Summit 2024 will bring together a diverse group of industry pioneers, including representatives from notable shipping companies, environment committees, and research institutes, for the live-streamed event lasting two hours. The summit will feature two-panel discussions. Panel 1 will focus on the topic ‘Why has it been so difficult to reduce emissions in ports?’ Panel 2 will explore the topic ‘AI will not have any impact on shipping or….?’ Maritime energy transition One of the highlights of the summit is the keynote speech by Dr. Uwe Lauber, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Sales Officer of MAN Energy Solutions SE. His talk on the topic ‘The maritime energy transition: Can the shipping/maritime industry get to net zero by 2050?’ will provide valuable insights to the audience. Frederik Schur Riis, Head of Green Ship of The Future, will be the summit’s inspirational speaker. In his talk on ‘Driving sustainable innovation through collaboration’, he will emphasise how collaborative efforts can lead to advancements in the maritime sector.

Alfa Laval has received an order to replace 18 ballast water treatment systems (BWMS) onboard vessels belonging to a major European shipowner. This significant order shows the high demand for the replacement of malfunctioning systems and a growing market for Alfa Laval’s BWMS replacement offering. Strict regulations and controls  Strict regulations and frequent controls are driving shipping companies to ensure their ballast water treatment systems are fully operational to avoid high costs, downtime, and potential business losses. As the majority of the world fleet is now equipped, the BWMS retrofit market is nearing saturation. Many suppliers have reduced their commitment to customers or exited the market entirely, leading to a lack of support and upgrade options as regulations evolve. This is especially challenging when the systems purchased are not functioning properly. High demand for replacement of BWMS Alfa Laval has replaced more than 250 systems from 30 different manufacturers, and the order book Over the past two years, Alfa Laval has replaced more than 250 systems from 30 different manufacturers, and the orderbook for replacement continues to grow. "With the consolidation of the BWMS market, we see a growing need for replacing installed BWMS systems," says Tobias Doescher, Head of Global Sales, Business Development and Marketing, Alfa Laval PureBallast. Tobias Doescher adds, "We have been contacted by an increasing number of shipowners and ship management companies worldwide who are experiencing issues that their current supplier cannot resolve. We are happy to step in and support our customers with cost-efficient and sustainable solutions." Professional approach to replacement projects Alfa Laval has experience replacing systems using electrochlorination (EC) and UV technology. The replacement projects are handled professionally by a thorough onboard assessment of the existing system by a qualified expert. This comprehensive evaluation determines necessary replacements and identifies components that can be reused, resulting in substantial cost savings for clients. The replacement process is customised for each customer, providing them peace of mind in meeting BWMS compliance. Ballast water management equipment "The success of this offering validates the way Alfa Laval has chosen to work - partnering for the entire lifecycle of ballast water management equipment rather than being a one-time supplier," says Peter Sahlén, Head of Alfa Laval PureBallast. Peter Sahlén adds, "While other suppliers are exiting the market, we are investing in our experts, actively following the regulations, and offering new services to facilitate compliance. We have even launched our new PureBallast 3 Ultra, developed based on years of customers' feedback."

As the shipping industry transitions to cleaner fuels, ammonia as a marine fuel is gaining momentum. Alfa Laval is at the forefront of enabling this shift. Through research, product development, and strategic partnerships, the company is building the expertise and solutions needed for a safe and efficient transition to alternative fuels. Addressing challenges Alfa Laval is now accelerating the development of new technologies for ammonia The unique properties of ammonia, including its low flash point, high toxicity, and low calorific value, pose distinct challenges for its use as a fuel. Ammonia-fuelled ships require advanced systems for tank containment, boil-off management, fuel supply, and purge/vent control.  Drawing on its extensive expertise with fuels like methanol and LPG, Alfa Laval is now accelerating the development of new technologies for ammonia.  Developing steam boiler technology as a 2-in-1 solution A steam boiler can offer a comprehensive solution to the challenges of using ammonia as a marine fuel. The Alfa Laval Aalborg ammonia dual-fuel boiler system can be a cost-effective, multi-purpose system for ammonia-capable ships. Together with meeting the ship's heat demand through steam generation, it can help to safely handle boil-off ammonia evaporation, and effectively remove ammonia vapour in the purge/vent stream, without adding bulky equipment. At present, the ammonia dual-fuel boiler design concept is under development, in collaboration with its partners. Collaborating for ammonia fuel supply system  Reliable automation system of FCM Ammonia holds all critical functions of FSS, FVT, and VTS The new Alfa Laval FCM Ammonia, designed for secure use of ammonia includes a fuel supply system (FSS) as the primary solution for feeding the fuel to the engine. This base system is integrated with a fuel valve train (FVT) for isolating the engine from upstream systems and a vent treatment system (VTS) for ensuring a controlled vent release into the atmosphere. The dedicated automation system of FCM Ammonia regulates all critical functions of FSS, FVT and VTS. FCM Ammonia is available for purchase, with a tested and capable supply chain. The marine design will be consolidated by the end of 2024 with the first marine delivery expected by the end of 2025, in line with the timeline for the first dual-fuel ammonia marine engines. Widest heat transfer portfolio for future fuels Alfa Laval offers the widest and most comprehensive heat transfer portfolio in the market. Alfa Laval Semi-welded Plate Heat Exchanger (SWPHE) portfolio has been used for ammonia heating and cooling in refrigeration systems for many years. The SWPHE is likewise suitable and used for the ammonia fuel gas supply system (FGSS), where the ammonia flows through welded channels.  With a maximum design pressure of up to 65 bar, SWPHEs provide optimised operations while minimising ammonia hold-up volume. Apart from SWPHE, Alfa Laval also offers printed circuit heat exchangers (PCHE) for ammonia FGSS applications that requires higher design pressures. Tank management solutions for ammonia carriers Alfa Laval’s brand, Scanjet offers the SURVEYOR system as a tank management solution for ammonia carriers Alfa Laval’s brand, Scanjet offers the SURVEYOR system as a tank management solution for ammonia carriers. This versatile solution provides accurate cargo monitoring and overfill prevention. With features like full volume calculations and pump/valve control integration, SURVEYOR optimises cargo and bunker operations while meeting stringent safety standards. To support its customers with the fuel portfolio, Alfa Laval has a strong service network with fuel experts around the globe. Alfa Laval Marine Service offers worldwide and 24/7 support throughout the lifecycle of the equipment, ensuring greater uptime and optimised performance.  Recent partnerships for ammonia technology development  In 2022, Alfa Laval got approval for testing ammonia at the Alfa Laval Test & Training Centre in Aalborg. As with other alternative fuels, the centre has deepened its knowledge of ammonia combustion, a crucial aspect of safe fuel handling.  Alfa Laval has recently signed a MOU with WinGD, ABS and K Shipbuilding to jointly develop an ammonia-fuelled MR tanker design. The initial project scope included designing the new Alfa Laval FCM Ammonia system for these vessels. Joint Development Agreement with WinGD Alfa Laval will deliver two FSS for testing WinGD’s ammonia-fuelled engine from Q4 2024 Recently, the scope has been expanded to incorporate the design of an ammonia dual-fuel boiler system. The boiler system will help to efficiently handle purge/boil-off gas, and meet the vessel's heat demands, thereby minimising the vessel’s energy consumption. Furthermore, following the Joint Development Agreement with WinGD in 2022, Alfa Laval will deliver two fuel supply systems (FSS) for testing WinGD’s ammonia-fuelled engine from Q4 2024. Alfa Laval is also an active partner of Maersk Mc-Kinney Moller Centre for Zero Carbon Shipping. Through collaborative research and innovation activities, it works to accelerate the development of solutions and drive transformation towards zero-carbon shipping. Transition to new fuels “By investing our resources in research, development and innovation, we are steadily advancing in our ambition to enable a future powered by alternative fuels,” says Sameer Kalra, President Marine Division, Alfa Laval. “Many shipowners are exploring the use of ammonia as fuel, and Alfa Laval is ready to be a key enabler of this transition— with innovative solutions, technological capabilities and experience in handling a wide range of fuels. We welcome collaboration with our customers, partners, and industry pioneers to accelerate the transition to new fuels.”