Yara International is entering into a joint venture with Wilhelmsen Maritime Services to supply NOx reduction solutions to the maritime market. The two Norwegian companies entered into the joint venture at the end of August 2007, forming a business called Yarwil. The companies expect to see demand for maritime urea-SCR increase as individual countries look to curb NOx emissions from vessels travelling in coastal waters.

European NOx reduction targets currently fall under the Gothenburg Protocol - signed in 1999 and enforced in 2005 - which requires a 67% reduction in NOx from 1990 levels by 2010. It is expected that European legislators will soon target maritime NOx sources as European countries struggle to meet their obligations. Yarwil anticipates initial demand to develop from ferries, fishing vessels and cruise liners - vehicles that are engaged in coastal operations that fall under the legislation of sovereign states. Ocean-going vessel in international waters are likely to remain unregulated.