A group of leading shipowners and charterers have formed a new scrubber advocacy group to help persuade the industry and the wider public of their value.
John Fredriksen, Idan Ofer and Star Bulk Carriers are among those backing Clean Shipping Alliance 2020 (CSA 2020) to support the use of exhaust gas cleaning systems (EGCS).
The aim is to provide information and research data to "better inform industry, national and international authorities, non-governmental organisations and the public on the environmental performance and benefits" of open and closed-loop systems, together with associated air and water emissions.
CSA 2020 also said it will support the "implementation and effective enforcement" of the IMO's requirement for a 0.5% percent global sulfur cap on fuel content as of 1 January, 2020, according to Port News.
Big hitters making big investments
Founding members include Fredriksen's Frontline and Golden Ocean, Idan Ofer's Eastern Pacific Shipping and Navig8.
The list also features Carnival and Safe Bulkers, which are going big on scrubbers for their fleet.
Charterers Cargill and Trafigura are also backing the alliance, together with tanker owners Torm, Hunter Group, Okeanis Eco Tankers and DHT.
Other names include Blystad Group, Eagle Bulk, Oldendorff Carriers, Grimaldi Group and Spliethoff.
The companies said they are leaders in maritime emission control efforts, making significant investments in EGCS.
They believe scrubbers will make "a substantial difference to the ports and ocean environments in which their ships operate and will promote global environmental progress – especially the goal of reducing the health impact from airborne sources, which is at the heart of the 2020 IMO regulation."
