Visit Wilhelmsen Ships Service
on Stand No. 1829 at
Cruise Shipping Miami
16 - 18 March 2010
Press release
Date: 16th March 2010
Ref. WSS 106
Wilhelmsen Ships Service sets pace with
regulations and environment initiatives
Wilhelmsen Ships Service is poised to respond to new regulations and play a vital
role in protecting the environment through effective and efficient solutions for its
customers.
The company has led the way in responding to new legislation and environmental
issues by offering a number of initiatives as part of the company’s environmental and
regulatory compliance efforts as well as the continual push toward environmentally
sustainable products. Four of these are summarised below.
Phase out of R-22 Refrigerant
As part of its strong commitment to the environment, Wilhelmsen Ships Service is
firmly focussed on legal trade with marine refrigerants. The company has a
comprehensive knowledge of the global development of local regulations that
supports the phase-out of HCFCs, and this technical expertise enables it to help its
customers achieve and maintain the best solution.
It has been illegal to charge refrigeration systems on EU-flagged vessels using virgin
HCFCs (R-22) since 1 January 2010 and Wilhelmsen Ships Service is working
closely with customers to maximise awareness of the regulation, advising them of
the company’s change-over solution and implementing a phase-out plan as quickly
as possible, within budget, to achieve compliance.
Wilhelmsen Ships Service has, through its “Catch R-22” programme, become the
leading supplier of R-22 changeover jobs onboard different types of ships. These
jobs have been executed in dry-dock, or during voyages. R-22 alternatives, like
Unicool R-417A have been carefully tested in marine applications. The company
ensures global availability for its selected Unicool range, supplied in refillable
cylinders.
On EU-flagged vessels it will still be legal to use reclaimed R-22 from an approved
company within the EU to top up and service systems until 2015. However, the
availability of reclaimed R-22 is limited, so prices are rising and are expected to
remain high for the foreseeable future.
Although this legislation (EC2037) only applies to EU-flagged vessels, other vessels
will also be affected if they call at EU ports and request virgin R-22. Ships carrying
flags from places that have not ratified the Montreal Protocol will not be able to
legally obtain virgin R-22 from a vendor inside the European Union. This will violate
the restrictions on trade laid down in the Montreal Protocol.
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Pool and Spa Offer
First deliveries have just started of a new updated range of pool & spa chemicals
and test equipment from Wilhelmsen Ships Service which is being welcomed by
leading cruise companies. The company has carried a range of pool & spa products
for many years and has recently been working closely with its cruise customer base
to update this product range.
Ryan Bishop, Cruise Segment Manager of Wilhelmsen Ships Service explains:
“Compliance with the Vessel Sanitation Programme (VSP) is an important part of
fleet operations in the cruise industry and the primary objective of our pool & spa
programme is to assist our customers with meeting their obligations.”
The new safer chemicals have been welcomed by clients including the giant Carnival
Corporation. The updated line of chemicals is also being supplied globally to the
ships of Holland America Line and Princess Cruises.
Philip Bannerman, Regional Sales Director of Wilhelmsen Ships Service comments,
“These contracts represent our first significant sales since we recently updated our
range of pool & spa chemicals. Our Cruise specialists worked closely with our
customers and our product specialists to develop the new range. This success
certainly validates the new product range and Wilhelmsen Ships Service expects the
offer to be taken up by other cruise operators.”
The new chemicals are being delivered from various key stocking locations
throughout Wilhelmsen Ships Service’s global network.
Phosphate-free chemicals
Wilhelmsen Ships Service has taken steps to ensure that its customers are aware of
the regulations regarding use of chemicals containing phosphates. Since February
2009 regulations relating to the Clean Water Act have been tightened regarding the
discharge of phosphates in US waters. Wilhelmsen Ships Service is making it clear
to its customers which of its Unitor products contain phosphates and therefore
should not be used for hull and deck cleaning or be discharged through the Grey
Water in US waters.
Wilhelmsen Ships Service has published a comprehensive guide which lists
alternative products that can be used that will meet regulations. The guide also
makes it clear what types of products should be used, for instance for a deck washdown, and highlights the company’s range of phosphate-free cleaners that are
available as alternatives. Guidance is also given on the permitted content of
bilgewater discharge and boiler blowdown. “We are committed to keeping pace with
regulations in order to ensure that responsible products are being used in our
environmentally sensitive oceans,” comments Ryan Bishop. “Our product
development continuously aims to keep up with new regulations. Keeping the
customer informed and acting as an advisor to the market is an important part of our
company’s service.”
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Other sustainable chemicals
Wilhelmsen Ships Services is working to a goal of delivering completely
environmentally sustainable chemicals. The company has long been committed to
conserving the world’s natural resources and is working within a framework to
address the aim of continuously increasing the effectiveness of the company’s
chemicals while improving the impact on safety and the environment at the same
time.
Wilhelmsen Ships Services is the market leader of marine chemicals, and the
company supplies its own Unitor branded chemicals to the world’s cruise fleets for a
range of needs. Sustainability is not limited to the chemicals themselves but
incorporates the whole production process.
“It is about the way we work with our business and our interactions with others,”
explains Morten Solstad, Business Manager, Chemicals, Wilhelmsen Ships Service.
“This means that we must monitor everything from the production and distribution to
the on-board use. This ensures that we have sustainable solutions for the benefit of
both our customer and the environment.”
He adds, “Our customers need to know that our chemicals do not pose a threat to
health and the environment when used correctly. However, they also want
chemicals that work - they should do the job they are designed for, efficiently and
thoroughly.”
The company framework encompasses a ‘from start to finish’ approach, monitoring
suppliers, controlling the production, sales and distribution process.
- ends Wilhelmsen Ships Service has the world’s largest maritime services network, with the ability to service 2 200
ports in 125 countries. The company’s main focus is to deliver improved vessel operating efficiency to the
merchant fleet. In 2009 the company made 208 000 product deliveries to 22 000 vessels and handled 53 000
port calls. Wilhelmsen Ships Service has 4 400 employees operating out of 318 offices in 72 countries .For more
information, see www.wilhelmsen.com/shipsservice .
Further information from:
Ryan M. Bishop, Segment Manager Cruise - Wilhelmsen Ships Service Americas,
Telephone +1 305-805-5442 (office) +1 305 450 8205 (mobile) Ryan.Bishop@wilhelmsen.com
Solveig Saether, Market Communication Manager, Wilhelmsen Ships Service,
Telephone +47 67 58 45 78 (office), +47 90 63 49 77 (mobile) solveig.d.saether@wilhelmsen.com
Marina Johnson, Press information, ClearLine Communications Ltd
Telephone +44 (0) 1590 670011 (office) +44 (0)7774 623539 (mobile) marina@clearlinecommunications.co.uk
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