With IMO 2020 sulphur cap implementation date approaching, the overall number of scrubber orders for containerships increased to more than 540 units, according to Alphaliner. The orders have increased since Alphaliner’s last survey in November.
Specifically, Swiss-based Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) is still the leader with the total number of scrubbers ordered for its owned and chartered fleet now approaches an estimated 180 units.
The carrier has already secured a USD 439 million loan to fit 86 exhaust gas cleaning systems to its fleet, with additional scrubbers to be installed on a number of MSC-chartered ships.
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In addition, Evergreen, a Taiwanese shipping major, has already ordered more than 90 scrubbers, for its newbuilds as well.
The shipping major will receive in May and June the first-ever scrubber-fitted megamax vessels, the 20,388 TEU sisters Ever Glory and Ever Govern. Ten of its 2,886 TEU ships have already been fitted with scrubbers, with more units on the way.
South Korea’s Hyundai Merchant Marine announced that 41 of the containerships will be fitted with scrubbers by mid-2021. The vessels consist of 20 newbuilds and 21 existing.
Moreover, according to Alphaliner’s estimations, HMM will fit scrubbers on some long-term chartered vessels. Therefore, the company’s fleet would achieve the 50 scrubber-fitted vessels.
Concluding, Maersk has already provided USD 263 million on scrubber installations for 50 of its containerships, in comparison to its first statements on relying mostly on sulphur fuel, in compliance with IMO’s regulations.
