Hapag-Lloyd Cruises has opted to use marine gas oil (MGO) on its expedition ships to meet the requirements of the IMO sulphur cap in 2020.
The newbuildings Hanseatic Nature (built 2019) and the Hanseatic Inspiration (built 2019) and the Bremen (built 1990) will use MGO from July 2020.
Meanwhile, the newbuilding vessel Hanseatic Spirit will burn the low-pollutant bunker fuel from its delivery in 2021.
The IMO will cap global sulfur content in marine fuels at 0.5% from January 1 next year, down from 3.5% currently. This applies outside the designated emission control areas where the limit is already 0.1%
“The decision to change fuels gradually and use marine gas oil all-year round on all expedition fleet routes in future is, for us, a step in the right direction towards achieving this important objective,” said Hapag-Lloyd Cruises chief executive Karl J Pojer.
Low-sulphur fuels have been mandatory in the Antarctic for several years and already Hapag-Lloyd Cruises uses MGO voluntarily in other sensitive regions, such as the Arctic or Kamchatka.
In addition, the company says its new expedition ships are not only equipped with an SCR catalytic converters that reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by almost 95%, but they are also fitted out to use cold ironing.
Hapag-Lloyd said its routes will be planned and carried out with an average speed that is “environmentally-friendly”, cutting fuel consumption by around one third.
“The sensitive cruising areas that make up our expedition itineraries should be particularly protected,” said Pojer.
“There are strict regulations in place for these regions that we adhere to, of course. We also set ourselves strict regulations to abide by when our ships cruise through the more remote regions.”
