Stade-based Hanse Ship Management AG is looking into scrubber installation ahead of the 2020 sulphur cap, Arnd Becker, Chairman of the company confirms.
“We see a high interest in installing scrubbers from the charterer side presently in the market. There have been long term projects with long-term time charters behind that.”
“We are looking in detail in that sort of projects and installing scrubber systems on our vessels,” Becker said, while speaking at today’s session titled Germany’s New Dawn within TradeWinds Shipowners Forum, being held as part of SMM trade fair program.
“From a technical point of view, we will be ready to use both scrubbers and compliant fuels,” he added.
As explained, the company has also explored the potential of LNG as fuel, but retrofits haven’t been that attractive, as it takes too long for the return on investment to be reaped. However, for newbuildings LNG is definitely a sensible investment, according to Becker.
Based on the company’s website info, Hanse Ship Management has around 84 ships in its fleet with a total carrying capacity of 900,000 tons.
Speaking about the fuel switch ahead of 2020 sulphur cap, Nicolaus Bunnemann, Managing Director at Atlantic Lloyd, said that technical challenges are likely to happen, especially with the take-up of hybrid fuels.
“We have seen the situation in the US Gulf and Singapore caused by the fuel of bad quality. I do expect similar things to happen with the new fuels. However, I believe the availability of compliant fuels would be ensured.”
World Maritime News Staff