RESISTANCE among tanker and dry cargo owners to installing exhaust gas cleaning technology (scrubbers) is fading fast following the announcement a few months ago by Frontline and DHT were installing scrubbers in their fleets.
Since then more shipowners have stepped forwards to invest in the technology, according to a Gibson markets report.
DNV GL reported that over the past six months 1,000 scrubber systems (mainly retrofits) were ordered. The total number ordered or installed by the middle of October stood at 1,850 units. Hybrid systems were the most popular, the class society said.
There is a strong financial argument in favour of installing scrubbers. Early adopters of the technology will benefit the most, both in terms of the shortest return on investment (ROI) and the maximum additional savings once the equipment costs have been paid off.
One-fifth of the very large crude carrier (VLCC) fleet could be fitted with scrubbers by 2020, counting those where installations are confirmed, those for which they are planned and others quoted as 'scrubber ready', London's Tanker Operator reported.
For now, the biggest limiting factor to fitting scrubbers are capacity constraints as it will be unrealistic to fit the whole tanker fleet with the technology by January, 2020. Yet, the situation could be very different in the following few years.
Goltens COO Roy Strand added that scrubbers will be the clear choice for many: 'When emissions regulations are applied globally, the investment in exhaust cleaning will make more sense to many operators. There will be more customers who choose to invest in scrubber technologies due to the clear payback.'
Since then more shipowners have stepped forwards to invest in the technology, according to a Gibson markets report.
DNV GL reported that over the past six months 1,000 scrubber systems (mainly retrofits) were ordered. The total number ordered or installed by the middle of October stood at 1,850 units. Hybrid systems were the most popular, the class society said.
There is a strong financial argument in favour of installing scrubbers. Early adopters of the technology will benefit the most, both in terms of the shortest return on investment (ROI) and the maximum additional savings once the equipment costs have been paid off.
One-fifth of the very large crude carrier (VLCC) fleet could be fitted with scrubbers by 2020, counting those where installations are confirmed, those for which they are planned and others quoted as 'scrubber ready', London's Tanker Operator reported.
For now, the biggest limiting factor to fitting scrubbers are capacity constraints as it will be unrealistic to fit the whole tanker fleet with the technology by January, 2020. Yet, the situation could be very different in the following few years.
Goltens COO Roy Strand added that scrubbers will be the clear choice for many: 'When emissions regulations are applied globally, the investment in exhaust cleaning will make more sense to many operators. There will be more customers who choose to invest in scrubber technologies due to the clear payback.'