AsiaContainersEnvironmentOperations

ONE stands out with unique scrubber approach

Japan’s Ocean Network Express (ONE) will be the only major container carrier to operate no scrubbers come the start of the global sulphur cap in 56 days’ time.

According to Alphaliner data, ONE is the only top 10 carrier that will not have scrubbers on any of its containerships by 2020.

At its latest earnings conference, ONE officials said they were still carrying out feasibility studies into installing the technology on to some of of its larger boxships.

Speaking at container event TOC Asia in Singapore in April, Jeremy Nixon, chief executive of ONE, said: “We are not great fans of scrubbers.” Nixon said scrubbers are complex and ONE believes it is better to take the sulphur out of the fuel than try and remove it from the exhaust in a complex treatment process.

ONE’s scrubber stance is far removed from its main rivals. Alphaliner data shows MSC is the carrier most committed to scrubbers with around 250 units ordered for ships it either owns or chartered. Evergreen has also shelled out hundreds of millions of dollars for its 150 scrubbers, with Maersk, previously a vocal opponent of the controversial technology, committing to have around 140 of its ships with scrubbers installed.

Sam Chambers

Starting out with the Informa Group in 2000 in Hong Kong, Sam Chambers became editor of Maritime Asia magazine as well as East Asia Editor for the world’s oldest newspaper, Lloyd’s List. In 2005 he pursued a freelance career and wrote for a variety of titles including taking on the role of Asia Editor at Seatrade magazine and China correspondent for Supply Chain Asia. His work has also appeared in The Economist, The New York Times, The Sunday Times and The International Herald Tribune.
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