It was reported in Sustainable Shipping last week that Carnival Cruise Lines has announced a US$180 million investment programme in sea water scrubbers. Details in the press are sketchy as to exactly what type of scrubbers are to be installed, or even the provider, but the plan seems to be a logical step which will see the installation of 100 devices across 32 ships between 2014 and 2016. The installations will be in vessels covering most of the company’s brands, Carnival, Holland America, Princess and Cunnard.
Other cruise lines have also been preparing their ships for the 2015 reduction to 0.1% sulphur in fuel in Emissions Control Areas (ECA). Norwegian Cruise Line announced in July that its upcoming newbuild ships, codenamed Breakaway Plus and Breakaway Plus II, would each feature five scrubbers. The ships debut in October 2015 and early 2017, respectively. Royal Caribbean has also announced that scrubbers will be installed on newbuilds Quantum of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas; having already been tested on Liberty of the Seas and Independent of the Seas.
The news that the cruise industry is taking a proactive stance can only be good for the abatement technology market, both from the perspective of buyers and suppliers. Healthy demand promotes competition and technical innovation as well as driving down production costs and hence prices. It is equally important from the perspective of signalling the shipping industry’s commitment to continue consuming residual fuels and underpins a continued availability of higher sulphur residual fuel oils in the marine bunker market.
The refining industry too will see the news as positive, the greater the installed base of scrubbing equipment the stronger the long term disposition of higher sulphur residues.
These announcements give both a positive message on the industry’s approach to compliance and indicate the scale of investment, which in turn draws more capital into the abatement technology market, further enhancing its competitiveness.
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