According to Danish exhaust gas cleaning equipment company PureteQ, the scrubber market is experiencing a resurgence due to uncertainties surrounding the availability of green fuel.
Predicting the type of fuel that will power ships has become nearly impossible, leading ship owners to seek secure capacities. However, only a fraction of the needed capacity appears to be available in the foreseeable future. In the interim, ships must prioritise securing their seaborn logistics.
Taking advantage of the competitive situation in the scrubber market is MT Maritime and MTM Shipmanagement. The company successfully installed and sea-trialled its first scrubber system at Chengxi Shipyard in China under the stewardship of the shipowner representative and Technical Director Prashant Lokhande.
The hybrid-ready scrubber system was provided by PureteQ. The MTM New Orleans was the first of two vessels to undergo scrubber retrofitting, with the scrubber system’s sea trial taking place on the maiden commercial journey to Indonesia. The scrubber system has been issued a type approval certificate from Class for its automated control and monitoring systems reducing the need for human intervention to the bare minimum. The MTM New York is next in line for a hybrid-ready scrubber, scheduled for retrofitting at Chengxi Shipyard in December 2023.
Lokhande, managing this pilot project, recommended PureteQ as the scrubber system maker and project partner based on several crucial selection criteria. The system had to be optimised for fast installation to minimise shipyard time, be the most energy-efficient on the market, possess an advanced control system with real-time remote access and onboard analytics, requiring minimum changes, if any, to the existing vessel structure, and offer professional and cost-effective service and spares throughout the asset’s lifespan. Quality was paramount, considering a scrubber being a significant investment meant to outlast the vessel. The system design needed to be suitable for upgrade to a hybrid/closed-loop system to meet more stringent legislations expected in the future.
Lokhande said: “It is early days. Assessment needs more time in service, however, the first scrubber system is performing as intended, and operations have been trouble-free during its first voyage post installation from Indonesia to Brazil. While a few glitches did occur during installation, commissioning and final certification post commissioning went well. Overall, owner’s choice of PureteQ as makers, has proven satisfactory.”
PureteQ CEO Anders Skibdal said: “We look forward to collaborating with MTM Shipmanagement in the future, not least to help them increase their ships’ energy efficiency and thereby minimise their carbon footprint.”
