As the IMO’s 0.5% sulphur cap is nearing, Wartsila witnesses a growing demand for scrubbers.
- The demand for scrubbers will continue to rise this year.
- Wartsila is already witnessing a rise in retrofit orders.
- This is a viable alternative which meets the upcoming 2020 sulphur cap on marine fuels.
The growth in demand for scrubbers is expected to continue this year and Wartsila is seeing a mix of scrubber orders for both new builds and retrofits, with an increasing volume of retrofits.
“We see a clear increase in scrubber demand since the second quarter last year”, said the president of Wartsila Marine Solutions, Roger Holm. “We had 77 scrubber orders last year and clear development over the year”, he added. Holm was speaking at the company’s annual result briefing where these statistics were highlighted.
Fitting scrubbers are one of the alternatives available to owners to meet the 0.5% sulphur cap for marine fuel emissions from 2020, others include LNG as a marine fuel and using gas oil. Owners have been reluctant to invest in scrubbers given the upfront cost and the difficulties in financing the purchase.
But the looming sulphur cap and the efficacy of the system has made it the most viable choice for shipowners. Scrubbers show the way ahead.
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Source: Seatrade Maritime.
