Korean owner HMM is launching a scrubber installation fund with a range of domestic partners.
It said the "win-win" financing also involves state financier Korea Ocean Business Corporation (KOBC) and Hyundai Corporation, as well as SK Trading International (SKTI).
DSEC, PANASIA and Multi Asset Global Investments are also taking part.
The total investment is KRW 153.3bn ($136m), with HMM pumping in KRW 46bn of this.
KOBC is providing a guaranteed loan of KRW 62.3bn, with the other companies putting in KRW 45bn.
In return, these five will receive first priority in contract negotiations for long-term fuel supply, supply of scrubber equipment and scrubber installation etc, HMM said.
The owner plans to complete scrubber installation on the 19 containerships currently in operation by the first half of 2020.
"HMM has taken pre-emptive actions towards the IMO 2020 including installation of scrubbers on its recently built vessels at an early stage," it added.
And two 11,000-teu containerships, HMM Promise and HMM Blessing, delivered in August from Hanjin Heavy, are the world’s first commercially operating units of that size and above to be fitted with large scrubber systems, it claimed.
It is installing the kit on its five VLCC newbuildings and the 20 mega-containerships it also has on order.
An HMM official said: "As the IMO’s new environmental regulation is expected to impose a heavy burden on shipowners, carriers not properly prepared for the IMO 2020 will be in huge trouble.”
"Thus, HMM will fully prepare for the IMO 2020 during the remaining period and will take this regulation as an opportunity for a quantum leap."
