LONDON: More than 100 containerships are out of action due to scrubber
retrofits and over 500 others are scheduled for retrofitting over the
coming 12 months, according to data from Alphaliner.
With IMO 2020 just around the corner, the world’s shipping fleet is
gearing up to face the new regulation capping bunker sulphur content at
0.5%, or the continued use of high sulphur fuels will need the
installation of a scrubber to bring the sulphur content down to the
compliant level.
As at 29 October, the number of containerships that stay at repair
yards for scrubber retrofits has reached 86, with at least 14 ships
currently waiting for a yard slot to become available.
In addition, more than 500 containerships are scheduled to be
retrofitted over the coming 12 months. Such a long retrofitting queue
has led to congestion at various yards as the scrubber installation
works have taken longer than anticipated. “Yard stays for the 79 ships
that have completed retrofitting works so far this year averaged 62
days, compared to initial expectations of 40 to 50 days,” Alphaliner
noted.
“The 62-day average does however include yard stays of ships that, in
addition to having a scrubber installed, also underwent other repairs or
conversions to increase the vessels’ container capacities,” the
container analyst added. The more extensive work could consist of
raising the deckhouse or installing higher lashing bridges.
The shipyard delays have so far forced carriers’ to postpone the
scheduled liner service re-phase-in of some converted ships, and they
have created queues for ships waiting to enter the yards, Alphaliner
observed.
“In some cases, container vessels waited at anchor for two to three
weeks until a yard slot became available,” it said, adding that the
current yard congestion problems are expected to last for some time,
well into next year.
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