DHT Co-CEOs: We Are Neither For nor Against Scrubbers

DHT Holdings plans to fit exhaust gas cleaning systems on two-thirds of its very large crude carriers to comply with the impending 2020 sulfur cap.
The retrofit program covers 16 ships built between 2004 and 2012, which stand to gain the greatest economic benefits. Additionally, the two new buildings delivered from Hyundai Heavy Industries this year had scrubbers installed, taking the total to 18 out of 27 ships with scrubbers, the letter disclosed.
According to Harfjeld, once fitted with scrubbers, the ships are expected to create a super-profit through their ability to consume regular heavy fuel oil versus compliant fuels that will be much more expensive

“As we have stated, we are neither for nor against scrubbers, but deem it our responsibility to position DHT as best as we can ahead of the implementation of the new regulations. We believe scrubbers to be an economical way to comply with the new regulations and want with this communication to share some important details in our scrubber program,” the company’s Co-CEOs Trygve P. Munthe and Svein Moxnes Harfjeld, said in a letter to shareholders.

Fifteen of the scrubbers that will be installed will be able to clean the sulfur content in the exhaust gas down to 0.1%, enabling these ships to operate with scrubbers within emission control areas (ECA) and ports, where permitted.