EMEA News
EU Helps Fund DFDS Scrubbers
The European Union (EU) is paying DKK 47.2 million ($8.6 million) toward the installation of scrubbers on DFDS vessels to help with the transition to lower sulfur limits within Emissions Control Areas (ECAs), the shipping company said in a press release.
The company, which has been testing scrubber systems on one of its freighters since 2009, plans to invest DKK 750 million ($137 million) in scrubbers for 21 ships.
The EU funds will go toward scrubbers for five freighters that sail from Gothenburg to Ghent, Belgium and Immingham, England.
The average cost of a scrubber system is around DKK 40 million ($7.3 million) per ship.
CEO Niels Smedegaard said the funds will help with the transition to the new ECA rules, which have shipping companies scrambling to keep their prices competitive with road transport.
"Scrubbers are a good solution for some of our ships and they will also provide a further environmental benefit as they also remove damaging particles from the exhaust," Smedegaard said.
"I am therefore proud that DFDS is playing its part in ensuring a cleaner environment, and I am very pleased that our major efforts in this area have been recognised with the investment support."
DFDS said earlier this year that it would end one ferry route partly because of the extra costs of ECA compliance, and others in the industry are seeking concessions from the EU to help make the transition to the new rules.
