As the 2020 sulphur cap deadline approaches, Ship Owners’
Club has followed up on its 2018 infographic which provided preliminary
information on the 2020 Global Sulphur Limit. The earlier publication
identified four possible methods that Members could opt for in order to comply
with the sulphur cap of 0.5% m/m:
§ Install a scrubber system which
will allow vessels to use whatever fuel oil is available.
§ Switch to low sulphur oil, for
example Intermediate Fuel Oil (IFO) or Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) that has been
treated to reduce the sulphur content.
§ Switch to a distillate fuel such
as Marine Diesel Oil (MDO) or Marine Gas Oil (MGO).
§ Use an alternative fuel source
like Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG), Methanol or
Hydrogen.
The Club envisioned that operators of larger vessels
might be more likely to adopt scrubber systems, but noted that these required
space for installation, which might not be available on smaller tonnage.
Availability of dry dock spaces for retrofitting on existing vessels might also
restrict operators from choosing this option.
Switching to low sulphur oil (treated IFO or HFO)
might then be the next best financially viable option if scrubber systems were
not possible. Members who were able might opt to switch to distillate fuels,
which were more expensive, but had naturally lower sulphur contents, especially
where their vessels were intermittently trading within an ECA.
Some Members might choose to invest in technological
developments, selecting alternative fuels. Whilst this might have a relatively
slow uptake in its infancy, the Club said that, as further technical advances
were developed; more vessels were expected to be fitted with these new systems.
The Club emphasized that accurate and clear records
were vital to demonstrate the vessel’s compliance with the revised sulphur
limit. Members were encouraged to ensure their systems are robust enough to
avoid doubt.
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