Safe Bulkers to Fit Half of Its Fleet with Scrubbers

Safe Bulkers, Inc., an international provider of marine dry bulk transportation services, has agreed with Cosco Shipping Heavy Industry Co. Ltd., (Cosco) a detailed schedule within 2019 for the installation of Alfa Laval PureSOx scrubbers in about half of its fleet.

The vessels will be mainly Monaco-based company’s medium size vessels, Kamsarmax to Post-Panamax class.

The company will install scrubbers in five Kamsarmax class vessels, thirteen Post-Panamax class vessels and the recently acquired Capesize class vessel while it maintains an option for an additional scrubber.

All preparatory engineering works are in progress targeting to initiate the first installation in the second quarter of 2019 and the last installation in the fourth quarter of 2019, opting for having about half of the Safe Bulkers’ fleet operated with heavy fuel oil and the other half, consisting mainly of smaller more fuel efficient vessels, with compliant low sulfur fuels.

Contractually, the expected downtime for scrubber installation is 32 days for the first vessel and 30 days for the remaining ships, while the downtime during a scheduled drydocking as part of the special survey is about 15 to 20 days. During the same period, ERMA First Ballast Water Treatment System (BWTS) will also be installed, achieving full compliance with IMO regulation Marpol Annex VI, as well as with Ballast Water Management Convention and EPA regulation for Ballast Water Treatment Systems.

The scrubber and the related expenditure for prefabrication and installation is expected to be in the aggregate of about USD 2 million per medium-size vessel, the company said, adding that the investment will be financed from cash on hand and additional debt.

“The retrofit of scrubbers is a demanding job involving the selection of reliable and durable equipment from the manufacturer with an extensive track record, detailed engineering studies and high quality of installation which should lead to reliable operations for years to come. Our technical department has worked extensively in all those areas to make possible the timely delivery at the required standards, within the budgeted costs for nineteen vessels with scrubbers within 2019, minimizing the downtime,” Loukas Barmparis, President of Safe Bulkers, said.

Cosco is the biggest group in China regarding annual turnover for ship repair projects, with five ship repair yards including Guangdong, Shanghai, Nantong, Zhousan and Dalian and has extensive experience in scrubber and ballast water management system (BWMS) installation projects.

Photo courtesy: http://www.safebulkers.com/