Denmark’s DFDS opts for scrubbers for 12 freight ferries

Danish shipping and logistics company DFDS will invest DKK 300million to install scrubbers on 12 freight ferries deployed on freight routes in the Mediterranean between Turkey, Italy, Greece and France next year.

The investment will ensure compliance with the new global rules that from 2020 aims to reduce sulphur emissions through limiting sulphur content in marine fuel oil to 0.5% or through other means, such as scrubbers, with at least a similar environmental effect, DFDS said in a NASDAQ filing earlier this week.

Its decision to go with scrubbers was based on a previous one where installed 17 scrubbers on its ferries in 2015 to comply with a rule limiting the allowed sulphur content in a ship’s fuel to 0.1% from the previous limit of 1.0% in SECAs (Sulphur Emission Control Areas), the company said, adding that the strategy has been successful.

"We are happy to already now start preparing for complying with the new limit on sulphur content in emissions in the Mediterranean. This will bring environmental benefits for all. By applying DFDS' extensive experience of procuring, installing and operating scrubber systems we are achieving both operational and financial synergies," said DFDS CEO Niels Smedegaard.

The 12 hybrid scrubbers will be supplied by ME Production, a Danish developer and manufacturer of customised emission reduction systems for marine applications, that DFDS has cooperated with previously.

Photo credit: DFDS
Published: 13 September, 2018