The standard for the valves of the future
For decades, Pres-Vac has been a major player in advanced valve solutions for tankers and dual-fuel vessels. According to Jens Reimer, the company’s long-serving Head of Regulatory Affairs, the mission is not only to keep up with developments, but to actively shape them through innovation and regulatory collaboration. This work has led to new technologies and opened the door to stricter environmental regulations.
The maritime industry is undergoing a profound transformation, with increasing demands from international authorities for reduced emissions and improved safety. Shipowners and shipyards now face a complex puzzle of technological and regulatory challenges, where short-term decisions on the right solutions can mean the difference between compliance and operational restrictions.
Jens Reimer has spent decades working with both the development and regulation of maritime systems, especially in relation to VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) emissions from tankers. He participated in the working group of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), which in 2017 introduced a requirement for all ships to document their emissions. The long-term goal was to provide a tool for reducing environmental impact. This heightened focus on emissions from fuel and cargo tanks has also drawn attention to the large amounts of VOCs released through pressure relief valves.
G&O Maritime Group/Presvac is currently hiring Product Engineers
“These are significant quantities. A Norwegian study from years ago, commissioned by the International Association of Independent Tanker Owners (Intertanko), showed that the annual evaporation from cargo and fuel tanks globally – caused by pressure changes during sailing and loading operations, as well as manual venting due to a lack of trust in the valves – equates to the contents of six to eight large tankers,” says Jens Reimer.
This translates into millions of tonnes of oil and VOCs released each year through pressure valves, resulting in financial losses and environmental consequences. As the industry becomes more aware of this problem, spurred by documentation requirements, the demand for more precise and intelligent high-velocity valve solutions is growing.
Innovation, regulation, and the next steps for dual-fuel vessels
“The need to trust valve performance has grown significantly, and this is where we can offer something unique. At Pres-Vac, we have always been early adopters of new technologies that reduce emissions, ensure optimal operational safety, and meet or exceed the latest IMO requirements.”
Pres-Vac has developed a valve solution that combines weight and magnetic control. For more than 20 years, the company has refined this technology to eliminate the compromises of traditional valve types. Jens Reimer explains:
“In short, there are three types of automatic high-velocity valves on the market. Weight-based valves open at a specific pressure but induce overpressure in the tank as they open. They also close slowly, which results in unwanted VOC emissions. Then there are magnetic valves, which avoid overpressure but tend to close too late, again risking emissions. Finally, there are Pres-Vac’s hybrid valves, which combine the benefits of both. The weight ensures robustness and early closure, while the magnetic mechanism prevents overpressure during opening and speeds up the closing process in the final 20–30% of the valve’s movement,” says Jens Reimer.
Source: Presvac/G&O Maritime Group
