Wärtsilä scrubbers for ‘major’ European line

The company will deliver systems for engine outputs of 50MW, 60MW and 70MW as well as providing engineering and site advisory services. The hybrid scrubbers in open-loop mode use seawater to remove sulphur – in line with IMO’s impending 2020 marine fuel rule – and in closed loop mode add a reagent to seawater.

“Our exhaust gas cleaning system will not only help our customers’ vessels run on lower emissions but significantly improves the air quality and emission level in coastal and sea areas in general,” said Markus Ljungkvist, general manager of project sales, Wärtsilä Services.

Some major European lines – notably Maersk Line and Hapag-Lloyd – have already suggested that they are unlikely to deploy scrubbers. CMA CGM has not ruled out scrubbers but has already heavily backed LNG as marine fuel with orders for ultra-large containerships. MSC is a potential candidate and is understood to have already opted for scrubbers on 11 newbuilds ordered last year.

At an average cost of around US$2.8 million – the figure used by CE Delft for a retrofit hybrid scrubber in its 2016 fuel availability study – the deal would cover scrubbers for around 60 ships. The decrease in technology costs since 2016, any discount for a sizeable order and the value of retrofitting services provided must also be considered.