Golden Ocean Group Limited, a dry bulk shipping company, announced that it signed contracts to install exhaust gas scrubbers on 16 Capesize vessels and options for 9 additional installations.
The first sixteen scrubbers will be installed during routine drydocking schedules. Most of them are expected to have been completed in 2019 or early 2020.
Birgitte Ringstad Vartdal, Chief Executive Officer of Golden Ocean Management AS, stated:
The steps we are taking to optimize the fleet by installing scrubbers will further position the Company ahead of the implementation of new caps on sulphur emissions.
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Scrubber uptake is rapidly accelerating with the number of ships with exhaust gas cleaning systems installed or on order standing at 983 as of 31 May 2018, according to a survey by the Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems Association (EGCSA).
This follows recent reports that major ship operators, including Spliethoff, Frontline, DHT and Star Bulk have opted for scrubbers. One of the ‘big’ container companies has confirmed it will use scrubbing as part of its 2020 compliance portfolio and there are rumors that others will do likewise.
The figures come as shipowners worldwide are seeking which is the best solution for compliance with the upcoming stringent environmental regulations, with the dilemma of scrubbers or environmentally compliant fuel being at the centre of global discussions.
