EMEA News
Eight More DFDS Ships Getting Scrubbers
Danish shipping and logisitics company DFDS says it is spending £34.5 million ($53.7 million) on exhaust gas scrubber systems for eight ships in 2014 as it prepares for new regulations in 2015.
The scrubbers will remove sulfur from the ships' exhaust systems, resulting in the same reduction in pollution as switching to 0.1 percent sulfur fuel in Emissions Control Areas (ECAs) in the Baltic Sea, North Sea, and English Channel.
"[T]he new sulphur regulations allow for alternative solutions that have the same environmental effect as using low sulphur fuel," the company said.
DFDS has already installed scrubbers on four ships, bringing its total investment in the environmental technology to £46 million ($71.7 million), and it is considering buying scrubbers for another 10 ships.
CEO Niels Smedegaard said that, while DFDS is able to make the large investment in the systems, other shipping companies may find it more difficult.
At the same time, he said, the adoption of liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkers is only a good solution for new ships.
"Society and shipping companies like DFDS have a common interest in improving the environment, while simultaneously ensuring that sea transport does not become unnecessarily expensive, which could lead to an increase in shipments being transported on already congested roads," he said.
"[W]e must act quickly to find solutions and, preferably, transition rules for the many ships that are not suitable for scrubber installation, possibly through temporary exemptions, if shipping companies contribute to investments in solutions where possible.
"Secondly, we have to work together in order to ensure the development of long-term solutions, including clear and appropriate rules for the use of scrubbers and rules that provide companies with a secure basis for deciding on investments."
Alfa Laval said last month that it was supplying PureSOx exhaust gas cleaning systems for three DFDS Seaways roll-on/roll-off cargo vessels.
