LNG to overtake scrubbers within cruise and ferry sectors
I believe that LNG and battery power will surpass scrubbers within cruise and ferry newbuilds to meet the 2020 low sulphur directive – and this is already happening.
While the passenger ship industry was an early adopter of scrubbers, it has now been overtaken by other ship sectors. A survey of Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems Association members shows that of the vessel types with scrubbers installed or on order, the cruise and shortsea ferry sectors only account for 15% and 13% of the market respectively, overtaken by 23% for tankers and 28% for bulk carriers. The figures show that most orders for the cruise and ferry sector are retrofit.
PST sister title LNG World Shipping data shows that – as of May 2018 – the number of cruise liners under construction that will use LNG has increased by an impressive 38% over the past 12 months, from 13 to 18 vessels. And since May several more orders have been announced, including a memorandum of agreement for two ships for Princess Cruises to be built by Fincantieri, the largest cruise ships to be built in Italy, and two for TUI Cruises, also to be built by Fincantieri.
The boom in expedition cruising is boosting alternative power use due to the sensitive waters being travelled in.
Of course, scrubbers will be continued to be used in retrofit and newbuild within passenger ships and there is also a strong case for them – but I think as the technology and infrastructure quickly develop, LNG and battery power will be more predominant.
Do you agree or not? Email me on rebecca.moore@rivieramm.com
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