Page 39: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (March 2017)

New Fuel Regs

ScrubberScrubber Drive

BusinessBusiness

BY TOM MULLIGAN he Exhaust Gas Cleaning work plan to ensure a smooth implemen- low-sulfur fuel may seem the obvious Working with Euroshore, the associa-

Systems Association and its tation, and the EGCSA and its members choice, it could easily render a vessel tion of European port reception facility members are preparing to are ready and able to take full part in uncompetitive at the price differentials providers, the EGCSA has been taking a meet higher demand for gas these preparations. expected in 2020 and the easy option science-based approach to the quality of scrubbing systems to bring “EGCSA strongly believes that com- may well not be the best.” scrubber washwater discharges. A new

T

SOx emissions in line with the targets munication, transparency and co-op- washwater sampling program is cur- set by the IMO’s 2020 fuel sulfur content eration between all stakeholders will Washwater Discharge Quality rently underway for the European Sus- proposals. As previously reported by this ease the changeover process. correspondent in Maritime Reporter and After some 350 ship installa-

Engineering News (December 2016 is- tions, scrubbing is now well-es- sue, page 24; January 2017 issue, page tablished and can no longer be 28), the IMO has come in for some se- considered a new technology. vere criticism over its proposals to intro- Needless to say, technology duce a global marine fuels sulfur content and regulatory development is cap of 0.5% (mass/mass) by the year ongoing – in reality it does not 2020. However, the organization can stop and there is always a need take some encouragement for its ideas to build on experience.” from the reactions of the Exhaust Gas With this in mind, the EGCSA

Cleaning Systems Association (EGCSA) recently hosted a second work- and major marine scrubbers manufactur- shop, in which members, as- ers, most of which have expressed their sociate members and a number satisfaction with and support for the pro- of guests viewed presentations posed regulations. from marine industry stakehold- “In October, IMO made the only cor- ers outside of the Association to rect and sensible decision. No delays – provide a platform for discus- from 2020 the global limit on marine fuel sion on shipowners’ perspec- sulfur outside of ECAs will be 0.5%,” tives of scrubbing, scrubbers enthused Don Gregory, Director of the and the environment, and of the

EGCSA, while Roger Holm, President re? nery and fuel suppliers’ view of Wärtsilä Marine Solutions, observed of the 2020 proposals.

that “the introduction of dual-fuel en- gines and the increasing use of LNG as a Future Fuel Prices: The real- fuel will provide a viable means of com- ity plying with the sulfur cap requirements.” “With signi? cant overcapac-

Gregory went on to say that it was not ity, low freight rates and poor only for EGCSA members that the pro- vessel values, many sectors posals bring certainty, but also the whole of the shipping industry have marine industry and its supplier base. He faced a very tough time of late. called it a “de? nite” decision that was It is therefore unsurprising that bene? cial to human health and the envi- ? nancial uncertainty was one ronment, and one that opens the door for of the themes of discussion,” businesses to take action. Gregory stated. “EGCSA’s view is that the future price realities

Start Planning Now of low-sulfur fuel should not be “So, is that job done?” he asked. “Ac- underestimated and that it is vi- tion plans must be put in place now. tal that ship operators carefully

IMO’s Marine Environment Protection evaluate all the various payback

Committee has also tasked its next sub- scenarios when considering committee meeting with developing a how to comply. Although using www.marinelink.com 39

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