Americas News
North American Operator Expands Scrubber Use for ECA Compliance
U.S.-based Interlake Steamship Company (Interlake) Monday announced that its vessel, the M/V James R. Barker, became the first of Interlake's 1000-foot vessels to to be outfitted with an exhaust gas scrubber system - part of the company's decision to utilise the technology for compliance with North American Emission Control Area (ECA) regulations.
As Ship & Bunker had previously reported, the company last year announced plans to install scrubber systems on two of its vessels, the M/V Lee A. Tregurtha, and M/V James R. Barker, early this year.
Interlake says a total of five of its vessels, including two additional 1,000-foot vessels - the M/V Paul R. Tregurtha and M/V Mesabi Miner - will receive scrubbers by the end of 2017.
"We have proven the technology on our 800-foot traditional Laker and now we're ready to scale up to our 1,000-foot class ships with our first installation on the James R. Barker," said Mark Barker, President of Interlake.
Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding (FBS), which completed the scrubber installation on Interlake's 800-foot M/V Hon. James L. Oberstar, also completed the scrubber installation on the M/V James R. Barker, and will do the same for the M/V Paul R. Tregurtha.
Last year, Ship & Bunker reported that Interlake had postponed its plans to use liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkers for Emission Control Area (ECA) compliance, and instead will turn to scrubbing technology and HFO.
