Weakness in freight rates will increase tanker shipping demolitions over the next two years, with the trend accelerating in later years as a result of the IMO regulation on ballast water, according to the shipping consultancy Drewry.
Despite the recent decline in tanker freight rates, demolitions have not yet picked up. Scrapping is expected to increase in the next two years, once owners start feeling the heat of persistent, low freight rates. But as the fleet is relatively young, demolitions will be moderate.
The new International Maritime Organisation (IMO) regulation on Ballast Water Management will require that all vessels going into deep sea have in-built Ballast Water Treatment Systems (BWTS) by September 2017. Existing vessels will have a grace period to carry out the retro-fit during their next special survey if this occurs after the deadline. Some owners are expected to bring forward fourth special surveys, if they fall around the scheduled deadline, in order to delay retrofitting BWTS to the fifth special survey.
But vessel owners for which the survey is due after mid-2018 will probably have to either retro-fit BWTS or scrap their tonnage. The additional cost of retrofitting BWTS along with the special survey will force many owners to scrap younger vessels before the next survey is due.
Drewry estimates that about 74 crude tankers (14 million dwt) and 114 product tankers (5.6 million dwt) will have their fourth special survey due between mid-2018 and 2021, making them potential victims of the new regulation.
“We do not expect all these vessels to be scrapped since many of them are on long-term charter at attractive rates, justifying the additional cost of retro-fitting BWTS. As tanker rates will remain well above operating costs during the forecast period, many owners might opt to operate their vessels after incurring this additional cost in anticipation of a recovery in rates,” said Rajesh Verma, Drewry’s lead analyst for tanker shipping.
“However, since the tanker market will be oversupplied, older vessels will find it difficult to get employment, which in turn will force many owners to scrap their tonnage just before their next survey is due,” continued Verma.
Source & Image credit: Drewry
Considering the costs of Ballast water treatment systems and that also USCG approved one, will be unviable option for Ship owners who need to retrofit along with IOPP survey costs. But scrapping is not the only option to avoid just BWM compliance. Recenlty at MEPC 70, IMO recommended new option for Ballast water management i.e. BWTBOATS – Treated water delivering facilities (refer MEPC 70/W.P.10 report). Being lot of old and even long charter vessels ply among dedicated ports especially they import for specific home ports of respective countries. Such group of similar trading ships can use this option to comply with BWM convention. They just need to have international shore connection on ship on which there will be further discussions at MEPC 71 probably. Every ship type or such segment need to just analyse the voayage data and find where they do cargo unloading because BWTBoats are required only while ballasting i.e. cargo unloading ports.
Its time to join hands like alliances to use shared options to comply with certain regulations rather than scrapping.
If you need more info. please contact : [email protected]