Guide to Marine Scrubbers

This publication is a valuable resource that will assist shipowners and operators in complying with the 2020 global sulphur in marine fuel regulations. The functions of various scrubber technologies are described, such as sulphur absorption and separation within the EGCS unit. Guidance is supported by explanatory diagrams and applicable IMO regulations.

Figures for estimated scrubber uptake have been largely based on the projected price and availability of low sulphur fuel. These estimates can be overlaid against the projected operational costs of scrubbers, including the costs of extra fuel, sludge disposal, any chemicals used in the scrubbing process and the maintenance and repair of equipment. This provides an estimated total of around US$45 per ton of bunker fuel scrubbed. Initial costs and financing costs will slightly favour uptake by larger vessels.

In 2017, a survey by The Strategy Works of senior technical managers, OEMs, marine lubricant suppliers and scrubber manufacturers found that 40% of senior technical managers in shipping companies would prefer to use scrubbers to comply with the global sulphur restrictions. Another 2017 survey by the global banking firm UBS Ltd showed different results, with 74% of shipowners planning to use low sulphur fuel for global sulphur cap compliance and 19% planning to install scrubbers. However, the compliance solutions are divided. There is a consensus that the shipping community will employ different solutions (including scrubbers) to be compliant with the 2020 sulphur regulations, and that these will depend on individual circumstances.

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The charterer and the owner have different responsibilities and this is an important reason why the scrubber market has been slow to take off in specific sectors. Depending on the conditions of the charter party agreement, the cost of fuel may be the responsibility of the operator or the charterer. Since, in some segments of the shipping sector, the contracts in which the charterer is responsible for purchasing the fuel are favoured, pressure could be put on the owners to install scrubbers if the price point for ULSFO is too high. However, the owner would have the considerable initial costs of the scrubber purchase and installation to consider. The installation of a scrubber unit on board a vessel under short term charter (6 months) would not be economic for the charterers, even if it is in the best interests of the owner.

When a new piece of major legislation is agreed, ship/fleet managers and owners must consider many factors. These include whether there are significant initial costs associated with the changes, the likelihood of loss of hire during installation of equipment and if there will be potentially significant training and ongoing operational costs.
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Industry estimates are that the 2020 requirements could add annual total costs in the order of US$50 billion to the shipping industry’s total fuel bill in 2020.

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It is important to note that a scrubber will allow equivalent compliance with both global (0.50% m/m (mass by mass)) and ECA (0.10% m/m) sulphur in fuel requirements. If the choice is made to use low or ultra-low sulphur fuels, switching will still have to be carried out to ensure compliance in the stricter ECA regions.

Chapter 1 Considerations When Deciding on the Use of Scrubbers

Chapter 2 IMO Regulations and Guidelines
2.1 Global Legislation
2.2 Regional IMO Legislation
2.3 The 2015 Guidelines for Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems

Chapter 3 Domestic Legislation
3.1 China Territorial Waters, Hong Kong and Taiwan
3.2 The European Union
3.3 California State Legislation
3.4 Australia
3.5 Turkey
3.6 Panama Canal
3.7 Legislation for the Discharge of Waste

Chapter 4 Factors Influencing the Choice of Scrubber
4.1 Costs
4.2 Route
4.3 Ship Type and Space Available Onboard
4.4 Energy Requirements
4.5 Maintenance Available and System Support
4.6 Crew Training and Safety
4.7 Compliance
4.8 Incentive Schemes

Chapter 5 Scrubber Technologies
5.1 Wet Scrubbers
5.2 Main Components of Wet Scrubbers
5.3 Configuration of the EGCS
5.4 Water Flow Rate

Chapter 6 Certification
6.1 The 2015 Guidelines for Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems
6.2 Class Society Approval

Chapter 7 Monitoring and Penalties
7.1 Monitoring Exhaust Emissions and Waste Water Quality
7.2 Enforcement and Penalties

Chapter 8 Data Sheets for Wet Scrubbers
8.1 AEC Maritime Scrubber
8.2 Alfa Laval PureSOx
8.3 Andritz SeaSOx Scrubber
8.4 BET Maritime SOx Scrubber
8.5 BlueSulf EGCS
8.6 CleanSOx Scrubber
8.7 CROE® Scrubber
8.8 ECO-EGC™ Scrubber
8.9 Feen Marine Exhaust Gas Cleaning System
8.10 Fuji Electric SaveBlue Scrubber
8.11 Hyundai Materials Scrubber
8.12 Ionada Semi-Dry Scrubber
8.13 LAB DeepBlueLAB SOx™ EGCS
8.14 Langh Tech Scrubber
8.15 MES EGCS
8.16 Mitsubishi Active Funnel SOx Scrubber
8.17 Pacific Green Technologies ENVI-Marine™ Scrubber
8.18 PaSOx™ Scrubber
8.19 PureteQ Maritime Turbo Scrubber
8.20 SAACKE EGCS-HM
8.21 Viswa Scrubber
8.22 Wärtsilä SOx Scrubber
8.23 Yara Marine Scrubber

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