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Scrubbers the solution? Verbal dissent


from a number of


European operators, particularly ferry operators who have been hammered recently by escalating fuel costs, may have led some in the industry to question whether the revisions to MARPOL 73/78 will actually be made in 2015. At time of going to press, the European Parliament was just commencing a review of the revisions, but it is very unlikely that the revisions will be shelved – the noises made by the EU have so far been largely supportive. Which begs the question, how should


the industry best respond? Some operators could simply do nothing, stick to HFOs, take the fines on the chin and pass on these costs to their shippers – indeed, the fines may work out to be cheaper than the costs of the new 0.1% content diesel oils. However, this strategy does not take into account the risk of


imprisonment and vessel downtime, nor it is likely that any of the blue-chip ferry and cargo ship operators will welcome the negative publicity this would entail, even if some still perceive Europe as being a relative ‘soft touch’ compared to the almost robotically stringent US Coast Guard. Alternatively, operators could watch their budgets further slashed as they adopt the in-demand, expensive marine diesels. Te third alternative is that operators


begin to seriously consider scrubber technology – again, an expensive option, albeit one which might avert a drain on low-sulphur diesels. Gregory estimates that between 1000-3000 vessels may require scrubbers in the SECAs by 2015, which would see orders coming through thick and fast


– perhaps


manufacturers of meet demand.


too this


fast for the technology to


A scramble for scrubber products in 2014, Gregory warns, will almost surely lead to disappointment. “Some vessels won’t have the onboard


space for this technology, anyway – this should be worked out in advance of the deadline”, he says. “However, we have noticed an uptake


in scrubber solutions over the past three months, especially in Canada, so maybe the industry is getting the message.” While he may be correct, it is disturbing


that the industry could sail so close to the 2015 deadline without turning the potential risk of energy shortages into a major talking point with IMO and EU representatives. Concerning the SECA sulphur cap, it may be too late to force a rethink on the EU’s part now, but this experience should serve as a lesson for future debates on forthcoming environmental legislation. Tere will certainly be more restrictions and directives in the coming years. OMT


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Offshore Marine Technology 1st Quarter 2012


15


In-depth


Visit our stand at I650


Oceanology 2012 Excel, London 13th-15th March


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