Will alternative marine fuel be available?

Article examines the ability of refiners to supply alternative marine fuels in the short term

This interesting article asks if you should convert the fuel system you are using to comply with IMO regulation, or use the same fuel system but add a sulphur scrubber? Will alternative marine fuel supplies be sufficient.

This article is relevant to Alfa Laval's ship fuel sulphur wet scrubber product - Pure Sox.
Read the full article on platts.com. A short part of it is below:

... A study by CE Delft, commissioned by the IMO in 2016 before it decided to cap the sulphur limit, shows demand for less-than 0.5% sulphur marine fuel will equal about 233 million mt/year when the rule takes effect in 2020.

2020 marine fuel demand projection

Refiners are working on new products to meet the standard, but they won’t be ready to talk specifics any time soon.

Uncertainty over what’s to come still has many in the shipping industry wondering what happens next.

Will non-compliance be widespread?

What is the viability of LNG bunkering as an alternative in the short term?

How many shipowners will carry on as usual using fuel oil and installing scrubbers to clean emissions on board?

It’s thought the majority of shipowners will switch to a new 0.5% sulphur fuel, but refineries around the world are likely to take a wide range of approaches in choosing blending components to meet the new standard. The sulphur content is the only chemical property of these new fuels that have been confirmed...

  

Read the full article on platts.com