SECA shipowners go for scrubbers

Mar 25 2015

SECA shipowners go for scrubbers

Baltic Ports Organization has held a seminar: SECA is real now – first implication of new sulphur limits. According to DNV GL and Henning Mohn, who gave an overview on the compliance strategies by ship-owners, the number of scrubbers is increasing. By the end of 2015 number of scrubbers installed on ships could reach up to 170 installations.

This trend is confirmed by Baltic ro—ro and ferry operators, who are installing scrubbers on their fleet, mainly DFDS, Finnlines, Scandlines, Transfennica. Mr. Mohn underlined that possibly ship-owners and shipping lines switched to conventional low sulphur marine diesel oil as it is much cheaper now and as it is safe and established solution based on the existing and extensive supply network.

Apart from the compliance strategies, the seminar was dedicated to enforcement of SECA rules in Baltic region and EU countries. According to the reports presented by Nariné Svensson from Swedish Transport Agency within 60 fuel samples of fuels taken from ships in Swedish ports only 3 were non-compliant and are under investigation. Similar number was presented by Sergio Alda from European Maritime Safety Agency. According to his data, there were over 500 inspections carried out within SECA area (from 1st January until 12th March) and 33 out of them were found as non-compliance, however, only 5 were registered in the Baltic region. It might be concluded that the non-compliance ships are at the level of 3-5 per cent, nevertheless, it has to be taken into account that this is an initial and rough estimation.

Furthermore, discussion at the seminar continued with a focus on the market impact. Representatives of Baltic Ports attending the meeting concluded that so far, after 10 weeks of new sulphur emission regime, there is no any clear evidence of market implications. Although, according to the Drewery Maritime Research, low sulphur fuel surcharges applied by ocean container operators varies from 30 to 300 US dollars per one TEU, depending on distance of sailing within SECA area. For the route between Chinese and Baltic ports, SECA surcharges are at the level of 130-150 US dollars per TEU. According to BPO research, surcharges for short sea operators sailing within SECA area vary from 30 to 100 Euro per TEU. Concerning transportation of ro-ro cargo, the special bunker surcharge applied by some operators may differ from a very low one up to 5 Euro per lane meter -depending on the length of route. However, total sea freight for ro-ro transportation in SECA area after 1st January 2015 increased only slightly due to the substantial drop in the oil prices observed in the last few months.

Bogdan Ołdakowski, Secretary General of BPO, commenting on the discussion at the seminar said: “We have to make sure the enforcement of sulphur emission standards are equal in all SECA countries and the entire SECA area, and the risk of distortion of competition at regional level is eliminated. In a long term, BPO is strongly for applying the same environmental rules for maritime transport all over Europe and even at a global level.”

The BPO seminar: SECA is real now was organised on 18th March 2015 in Gdańsk within the framework of Transport Week 2015 event. Transport Week is an annual transport industry event gathering delegates from all over Europe organised by Actia Forum Ltd (http://www.transportweek.eu/) The study trip to Gdańsk based Remontowa Shipyard was a part of the seminar. Remontowa Shipyard has a long scrubbers installation order book - over 50 and mainly for Ro-Pax vessels sailing within SECA area in North Europe.

Presentations:
Bogdan Ołdakowski
Sergio Alda
Narine Svensson
Henning Mohn