Marine Scrubbers Market, and

the Technoeconomic Challenges

Faced by the Industry
Konstantinos M. Tsitsilonis
Cleanship Solutions
Naval Architect & Marine Engineer
What’s a scrubber?

www.nicrospa.com
 Current Market World Scrubber-Fitted Fleet

• Demand drivers:
• Compliance; IMO Sulfur cap of 0.5%
• Uncertainty / Risk management

• Current Status:
• Unprecedented growth!
Current Market
Current players on Retrofits:

Source: Maran Gas

Current Market
Current players on Newbuilds:

Source: Maran Gas

Market Outlook
• Market to cross $8bn by 2024 with a CAGR of 20.8% for the next decade.

Source: Clarksons Research

To Scrub or not to Scrub….
• Three options are available:

• Use of alternative fuel types such as methanol or LNG.

• Use of low sulfur marine diesels.

• Use of scrubbers.
To Scrub or not to Scrub….
• Option 1:

• Use of alternative fuel types such as methanol or LNG.

• Expensive or impossible to retrofit
• Infrastructure remains questionable (depending on the type of vessel).
• High quality fuels with well tested performance.
To Scrub or not to Scrub….
• Option 2:

• Use of low sulfur marine diesels.

• Concerns are mounting of weather
enough compliant fuel can be
produced.
• Desulfurising HFO down to 0.5% is
still expensive
• Mounting uncertainty: Refiners are
unclear about the blends…

Source: PIRA Shipping

 To Scrub or not to Scrub….
• Option 2:

• The decision also depends on the

price differential blends vs. HFO.

Source: PIRA Shipping

To Scrub or not to Scrub….
• Option 3:
• Scrubbers require up-front investment:

• Owner can purchase low cost HFO

Source: DNB Markets
• Existing vessels require a retrofit!
• Considerations:
• Vessel Structure
• Vessel size & age
• Vessel type
Marine Scrubber Types
Open Loop vs. Closed loop
Marine Scrubber Types
U-Type:
Marine Scrubber Types
U-Type:
 Marine Scrubber Types
I-Type:
Marine Scrubber Types
I-Type:
The Retrofit Design Process
• Step 1: 3D Point Cloud
The Retrofit Design Process
The Retrofit Design Process
• Step 2: Drop in the Scrubber
 The Retrofit Design Process
• Step 3: Model the new structure
 The Retrofit Design Process
• Step 4: Model the pipework
 The Retrofit Design Process
• Enjoy the outcome and move to the next job
Technical Challenges Faced
• Owners are extremely protective of their assets.
• A lot of time is spent in technical negotiations.

• Decision to install a scrubber is usually made using only commercial

rather than technical drivers.
• This results to unforeseen technical challenges such as the scrubber not
fitting in the funnel as expected.
Questions!?