Page 115: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (August 2018)

NEW TECH ? SMM 2018

THE VISWA GROUP

IMO Sulfur 2020 and the Scrubber Decision

SMM 2018 Preview

The IMO Annex VI regulations on reduction of sulfur content in marine fuels to 0.1% in ECA (emission control areas) and 0.5% in non ECA regions will be implemented on January 1st 2020. While there are a few options available to ship charterers and owners, the vast majority will be choosing between installing a scrubber and using distillates as the marine fuel. With the projected high differential cost between heavy fuel and distillates, the number of vessels taking up scrubbers is rapidly increasing. This is due to a variety of reasons including very high operating costs if using distillates, quick return on investment using a scrubber, the current buyer’s market for scrubbers, existing knowledge of using heavy fuel and the need for global compliance.

What are factors that should be considered when making the decision on the right scrubber manufacturer? The decision should be made using a long-term view as an end goal. The factors should include design, materials and dependability of these materials, knowledge of potential problems and ways to counter them, ease of installation, price and return on investment, reliability and automation of the unit and ease of retro