By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) - Ocean carriers are biting the bullet and agreeing charters for significantly higher daily rates as markets tighten ahead of IMO 2020. The IMO’s maximum 0.5% sulphur content regulation for maritime fuel becomes law in less than 120 days and is widely seen as a ‘game-changer’ for the shipping industry. Dry docks are said to be “full” of … [Read more...]
The 340-Mile Line of Ships Waiting to Clean Up
By Alex Longley (Bloomberg) Head to the shipyards of Shanghai, Singapore or Hamburg and you’ll soon find them full to the brim with vessels rushing to clean up their act. Over the course of this year, about 2,200 ships will install so-called scrubbers that allow them to keep burning more-polluting fuel that will otherwise be banned. Put all of those vessels in a line, and … [Read more...]
China to Expand Discharge Ban on Open-Loop Exhaust Scrubbers -Draft
BEIJING, July 24 (Reuters) - China will extend a ban on discharging the waste water from open-loop scrubbers to more coastal regions starting in 2020, the country's maritime authority said in a draft plan. An open-loop scrubber is a device that removes sulphur from the exhaust that comes through a ship's smokestack but the water used in the removal process, known as wash … [Read more...]
Weaker Scrubber Demand Takes Shine Off Alfa Laval’s Results
STOCKHOLM, July 17 (Reuters) - Sweden's Alfa Laval reported a fall in quarterly orders on Wednesday on weaker-than-expected demand for ship exhaust cleaners and pumping systems, sending its shares sharply lower. Demand for so-called scrubbers which strip out sulphur from marine fuel has boosted the engineering group as well as Wartsila in the past few years as shipowners … [Read more...]
MSC Continues Ship Upgrades to Make Up for Lost Scrubber Slots
By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) - MSC has signed a new contract with Cargotec’s MacGregor to upgrade the container intake on six 16,000 teu vessels to mitigate the loss of slots as a result of the installation of scrubber systems. It follows a contract awarded at the end of 2017 to the hatch cover specialist to “optimise the carrying capabilities” of 31 14,000 teu … [Read more...]