Page 49: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (February 2018)

the coastal North America where fuel- or the vessels’ propulsion units will need ports meaningful comparisons between sulfur limits have been set to 0.10%. to be designed with NOx abatement options and arrival at a preferred solu-

The type of scrubber (wet, dry, or hy- tech¬nology such as exhaust gas recir- tion for retro? tting or new construction brid) that best suites a speci? c ship will culation or selective catalytic reduction projects.

largely depend on the marine and regula- systems. The evaluation’s life-cycle approach tory environments in its selected area of While the proportion of new ships be- provides a clear evaluation of the cost operations. ing ordered with scrubbers is on the rise differentials by using a comprehensive

For example, if the ship has an operat- (from roughly 1% through 2012-15 to inventory of projects and operational ing pro? le with minimum transit times about 5% last year), present uptake lev- costs in terms of present value. Newbuild through ECAs, or where there are no re- els combined with the number of ordered and retro? t technology decisions can be strictions on the discharge water by lo- and existing gas-fuelled ships appears simulated for a single vessel or a series cal or regional authorities, an open loop to indicate that most of the estimated of vessels using a range of scenarios that scrubber may suf? ce. If it has long port 70,000 ships subject to the global cap investigate compliance requirements.

stays with an appreciable time in ECAs, will opt for low-sulfur fuel by the dead- Beyond techno-economic model- a hybrid or closed-loop scrubber system line. With so many technical variables – ling, ABS has published guidance for

About the Author may be the best option. and so much information available – it the steps owners should take to install

Based in Houston, Texas, James Bond

The cost of scrubber systems includes is important for owners to take a struc- exhaust-gas scrubbers, as well as an ad- is a Senior Technical Advisor for the the price of the scrubber, installation tured approach to the decision-making visory to highlight what owner/operators

American Bureau of Shipping’s Global expenses, any additional miscellaneous process. need to know about the 2020 sulfur cap.

Engineering and Technology group. auxiliary equipment, off hire, ship modi- ABS believes that one of the keys to For those owners intent on ordering

James has worked in the marine and ? cations, any fuel consump¬tion re- a cost-effective transition to low-sulfur vessels but hoping for more clarity on offshore industries for 30+ years.

quired to operate the system and the cost shipping is an evaluation process that ex- issues such as fuel supply and quality of consumables (for example, cleaners amines the available technology, its ap- standards before choosing their ? eet’s such as sodium hydroxide). These ele- propriateness for the intended theatre of path to com¬pliance, ABS has ‘LNG or ments are used to form a cost-compar- operations and economic considerations Scrubber ready’ notations, which allows ison against the expense operating the such as life-cycle costs, comparative them to prepare vessels for implement- ship’s fuel combustion units on low-sul- savings against other products and solu- ing LNG or scrubber options at a later fur fuel, for example. tions, payback period and rate of return date. A sulfur cap on marine fuels is now

For ships under construction that in- on investment. less than two years away and the indus- tend to operate inside an ECA, an already The ABS Techno-Economic Evalua- try’s response will de? ne the shape of complex situation is compounded by the tion considers ship design, equipment cleaner ships for the near term. The path requirements of the IMO’s Tier III NOx details, trading routes, fuel cost trends to compliance may become clearer in the emissions regulation. A main engine that and ? eet analysis to establish a base coming months for each ship, but it is a is Tier-III compliant (e.g., some engines trading case and alternative technology journey the international shipping com- operating in gas mode) will be needed, and fuel scenarios. This information sup- munity has to take. committed to the quality of the[SVPH¾IIX

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