- Maersk in February revealed it had placed retrofit orders for units totalling $263 million.
- Based on prevailing costs Maersk’s current retrofit commitment is likely to cover some 50 vessels – around 15% of its 750-strong fleet.
- Use of compliant fuel remains Maersk’s core compliance strategy, in which it has made significant investments.
According to Maersk CEO, Søren Skou, bunker price movements are looking very favourable for the economics of scrubber equipped tonnage, reports Ship & Bunker.
Good deal to have scrubbers
During the firm’s latest earnings call, Skou said the relative price movements of high sulfur and IMO 2020 compliant low sulfur bunkers looks like “great business” to have a scrubber installed.
Despite Maersk’s long standing position against the technology, in February the firm revealed it had placed retrofit orders for units totalling $263 million.
Scrubber scale up expected
Skou now says that if the current price dynamic continues, Maersk could even scale up its scrubber programme in order to stay competitive.
Though Maersk has still not given details on the exact number of scrubbers it will install, based on prevailing costs its current retrofit commitment is likely to cover some 50 vessels – around 15% of its 750-strong fleet.
Though unconvinced?
Despite the softening stance on the tech, Skou reiterated he remains unconvinced of scrubbers as a compliance solution and still believes sulfur elimination should take place at the refinery stage.
Use of compliant fuel remains Maersk’s core compliance strategy, in which it has made significant investments.
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Source: Ship&Bunker
