DHT Orders Scrubbers for 12 VLCCs

DHT Holdings, Inc. will have exhaust gas cleaning systems, also know as scrubbers, retrofitted on a dozen of its tanker vessels ahead of the IMO Sulphur Cap due to enter force January 1, 2020.

The Bermuda headquartered ship owner said it has entered into agreement with manufacturer Alfa Laval to supply the systems and has also secured shipyard capacity to install all systems within 2019.

The scrubbers will be installed on very large crude carriers (VLCC) built between 2012 and 2004, “the part of the fleet that stands to achieve the greatest economic benefit,” the ship owner said.

“We look at the upcoming IMO Sulphur Cap as an opportunity for DHT rather than a threat. We come well prepared and are very pleased with the timely project we have put in place. This project could potentially create a super-profit for the ships in question and boost the already significant operational leverage in DHT,” the company said.

With the 12 refits, DHT will have a total of 14 VLCCs fitted with scrubbers, including the two systems being installed on the newbuildings DHT Bronco and DHT Mustang soon to be delivered from South Korean shipyard Hyundai Heavy Industries.

The company said it has received proposals to finance the majority of the project with debt and is confident to conclude this in the near future.