New online tool for Sulphur 2020 compliance

Lloyd’s Register (LR) has launched the Sulphur 2020 Options Evaluator to help the industry identify the best strategy for compliance with the global sulphur in fuel oil limit of 0.50 per cent m/m, which comes into effect on January 1, 2020.

The evaluator brings clarity to the cost and investment implications of various compliance strategies, such as the transition from fuel oil to MGO, use of scrubbers and HSFO, or use of other compliant fuels such as LNG or methanol.

“There is no clear strategy to compliance. It is dependent on trading patterns, distance travelled, speed, size and type of vessels,” said LR’s Regional Consultancy Manager Asia Douglas Raitt.

The evaluator allows ship operators to compare different compliance strategies by reviewing emissions output and comparing the different CAPEX and OPEX implications of each option.

“It appears most operators will transition from fuel oil to gas oil operations to meet the global sulphur in fuel oil limit,” he said.

“Scrubber uptake or LNG and Methanol as a marine fuel are slowly evolving, perhaps as a function of a wait-and-see approach by the shipping industry.

“We developed the options evaluator to give some guidance to operators who have not yet fully considered their options for 2020 compliance.”