The First Emissionless Feri Ship In The World Circulating Between Marseille And Corsica

La Méridionale's emission-free ship. (Source: La MMARionale/M. Jolly via Euronews)

JAKARTA - Your next trip to Corsica, France can be more environmentally friendly thanks to the new 'zero particles' ferry connecting Marseille and Ajaccio.

In the first industry, the ferry's fine particle screening system can capture 99 percent sulfur oxide and 99.9 percent fine and ultrahalus particles, the main air pollutants emitted by the ship.

EU regulations are currently limiting the content of sulfur from ship fuel, but new engine filters reduce maritime emissions further.

French ship owner La Méridione has been testing the pollution removal device for its new ferry, 'Piana' or 'The total', for three years.

The filter is now capable of removing almost all fine and very fine particles emitted by the ferry.

Experts believe this innovation could be a 'game changer' for the shipping industry.

"We can see that a small company is able to implement advanced technology, with huge direct benefits for players." said target Piga, director of French air quality monitoring organization innovation AtmoSud, as reported by Euronews September 7.

To date, to reduce sulfur oxide levels in fuel, it is necessary to use fuel that does not cause pollution or'scrubbers' that wash smoke with seawater, he explained. Scrubbers placed on the edges of the ship are raced because they usually throw pollutants into the sea.

The ferry filter system is inspired by existing technologies, which are used in burning industrial and household waste, as well as biomass power plants.

"Filter baghouse has been around for almost 30 years now," said Christophe Seguinot, technical director of La Méridione.

It works by neutralizing pollution particles with sodium bicarbonate when emitted in exhaust gas, then catching them in a filter pocket.

"The challenge for us is to make it suitable for the maritime sector," explained Seguinot.

This involves making the device smaller and lighter, so it can be installed on a ferry while leaving enough room for travelers.

The company now aims to work towards a zero emission ferry by reducing its nitrogen oxide emissions, which is an important part of air pollution. It is hoped that this technology can be applied to cruise ships in the future.

It is known, the shipping industry accounts for about 10 percent of the air pollution in Marseille. Earlier this month, more than 50,000 people signed a petition to ban the pollution cruise ship from Marseille, one of Europe's busiest cruise ports.

Speaking of the Piana ferry, Marseille Mayor Beno Lihat Payan tweeted, "Let's hope the big polluters take an example from La Méridione."

Not only is the toxic concentration of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter damaging marine life, they also have harmful consequences for human health. Overall, air pollution causes 9 million deaths every year around the world.