Sponsored By

Maersk to install scrubbers on a 'limited number' of vessels

Despite Maersk Line's stance that sulphur should be removed from marine fuel at the refining stage, the Danish shipping giant is going to install scrubbers on a limited number of vessels.

Marcus Hand, Editor

September 13, 2018

1 Min Read
Kalyakan - stock.adobe.com

Reuters reported that it would be one of several elements Maersk would use to be compliant with the IMO's 0.5% sulphur cap for marine fuels globally from 1 January 2020.

"As part of the preparations we have decided to invest in new scrubber technology on a limited number of vessels in our fleet of around 750 container vessels," Niels-Henrik Lindegaard, head of Maersk Oil Trading told Reuters in an email.

"Using scrubber technology is a small part of – and just one of several elements in – our overall 2020 fuel sourcing strategy to ensure compliance in time," he said.

Maersk ceo Soren Skou reiterated the company's objection to scrubbers as solution to meeting the sulphur cap in its Q2 results briefing last month, but also said it might invest in a few scubbers to understand better how they work.

Read more: Maersk sticks to anti-scrubber stance to meet 2020 sulphur cap

"While we will continue to explore how to best comply with the 2020 sulphur cap, we still believe the best solution remains with compliant fuels from refineries on land," said Lindegaard in the report.

As the deadline looms for global sulphur cap scrubbers have become an increasingly popular option among owners of large vessels where a short pay back time is seen on the cost of investment on the scrubber and the potential price spread between high sulphur fuel oil and low sulphur fuels come 2020.

Earlier this week New York-listed Safe Bulkers became the latest owner to make major investment in scrubbers announcing that it was fitting them to half its fleet.

Read more: Safe Bulkers to install Alfa Laval scrubbers on half its fleet

Read more about:

Maersk

About the Author

Marcus Hand

Editor

Marcus Hand is the editor of Seatrade Maritime News and a dedicated maritime journalist with over two decades of experience covering the shipping industry in Asia.

Marcus is also an experienced industry commentator and has chaired many conferences and round tables. Before joining Seatrade at the beginning of 2010, Marcus worked for the shipping industry journal Lloyd's List for a decade and before that the Singapore Business Times covering shipping and aviation.

In November 2022, Marcus was announced as a member of the Board of Advisors to the Singapore Journal of Maritime Talent and Technology (SJMTT) to help bring together thought leadership around the key areas of talent and technology.

Marcus is the founder of the Seatrade Maritime Podcast that delivers commentary, opinions and conversations on shipping's most important topics.

Conferences & Webinars

Marcus Hand regularly moderates at international maritime events. Below you’ll find a list of selected past conferences and webinars.

Get the latest maritime news, analysis and more delivered to your inbox
Join 12,000+ members of the maritime community

You May Also Like