The International Maritime Organization wanted to regulate the sulphur content of heavy fuel oils used by ships early in the 2000s. The objective was then to reduce SOx emissions at the exhaust.
La Méridionale wanted to evaluate the XBEE Enzyme Fuel Technology in order to verify its capacity to reduce pollutant gas emissions. It commissioned the Ascal laboratory which went on board the ferry Girolata to measure her atmospheric emissions at the chimney of its main engine n°4, a MAN-B&W engine, model 8L48/60 developing 7,800 kW, and powered by heavy fuel oil 380 LS.
