EMEA News
UK Short-Sea Shipper Reports ECA Compliance Efforts Have Gone "Without a Hitch"
Three months into stricter Emission Control Area (ECA) sulfur regulations, UK-based short-sea shipper Carisbrooke Shipping has announced that careful preparation has allowed the company to become compliant "without a hitch."
Due to the smaller size of the company's vessels, scrubber retrofits were not an option, while the economics of liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a marine fuel didn't stack up, according to CEO Robert Wester.
Instead, the company's fleet of 60 vessels turned to marine gas oil, which Wester admitted has been expensive.
"We are confident that the investment has led to safer, greener and more efficiently-run vessels overall," he said.
According to Fleet Technical Director Martin Henry, some of the company's older vessels in particular needed more time and resources during the changeover process, such as reorganising fuel supply pipework for some ships where it was economically viable.
"Knowing what kind of serious failures and problems can occur during the extremely critical period of fuel change-over, if not managed well, we decided that careful preparation was a priority, not least because the regulations were to enter force at the very worst time of year when weather conditions are often at their most severe," he said.
"If the process is not carried out carefully, there is a serious risk of damage to components."
Earlier this year, Drewry also said that the cost impact of ECAs so far have been "virtually zero," as low oil prices have drastically decreased the cost of compliant fuel.
