On the morning of June 20th, at the Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Changxing Island Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. dock, Zhejiang Energy Marine Environmental Technology Co., Ltd. (ZEME), a subsidiary of Zhejiang Energy Group, was conducting desulfurization modifications on two container ships belonging to Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC). The site was bustling with activity, featuring towering cranes and welding sparks.
（Construction scene of ZEME performing desulfurization modifications）
On the afternoon of June 19th, the container vessel “MSC SARAH”, which had undergone desulfurization modifications, departed the dock to enter trial operation. With a capacity of 4,400TEU standard containers, the vessel is expected to reduce 2,450 tons of sulfur dioxide emissions annually following the modification, effectively lowering marine environmental pollution.
As of June 20th, ZEME had completed 95 vessel sets of desulfurization modifications (new builds) this year, exceeding the total delivered in 2022, setting a new historical record. The company has accumulated 420 ship sets of desulfurization orders, ranking third globally in order volume.
（ZEME and the first-line employees of the construction unit installed the desulfurization scrubber tower water supply pipeline for the MSC OLIA）
Desulfurization modifications for ocean-going vessels involve the installation of desulfurization devices on the exhaust gases of diesel engines burning high-sulfur fuel, significantly reducing sulfur oxide emissions during navigation. According to the International Maritime Organization's statistics from 2014, ocean-going vessels account for 13% of global sulfur dioxide emissions. By adding desulfurization devices, the impact on the global atmospheric environment can be further improved.
This year, ZEME has focused on deepening the implementation of Zhejiang Province's three "Number One Projects" as the starting point and focal point for driving the company's high-quality development. The company is accelerating technological innovation, digital reform, and optimization of mechanisms and systems, fully expanding its presence in the global marine environmental governance market, and continuously growing its "sweet potato vine." As of June 20th, ZEME had signed contracts for desulfurization modifications on 163 vessels this year, with a total contract value exceeding $400 million.
To address the dense order schedule and massive data management, ZEME independently developed an enterprise digital collaboration system, implementing digital empowerment. This transitioned the company's production management system from low-level "manual management" to high-level "digital management," significantly enhancing management efficiency. The company shortened the single-vessel modification period from the industry-standard 60 days to 33 days, greatly reducing downtime costs for ship owners.
Furthermore, ZEME collaborated with universities to build China's largest ship exhaust pilot platform, which won the First Prize of Zhejiang Science and Technology Progress Award in 2021. In recent years, ZEME has modified over 100 international and domestic vessels annually, with an annual reduction of over 400,000 tons of sulfur dioxide. Through outstanding technical competitiveness, general contracting capabilities, and excellent global after-sales service, ZEME's market share continues to grow, consistently providing Chinese solutions for global marine environmental governance and cleaner ship production.
