Höegh Autoliners Readies for IMO 2020

Norwegian shipping company Höegh Autoliners AS is now preparing its fleet for the change in fuel, having chosen Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (VLSFO) and Low Sulphur Marine Gas Oil (LSMGO) for complying with IMO 2020.

In the Bunker department, new bunker patterns are being planned for and in the commercial section, the new rules also require attention.

IMO 2020 entails a great shift for the shipping industry and the preparations started long ago in Höegh Autoliners.

Håkon Kiil, Head of Business Analytics is leading Höegh’s IMO 2020 implementation group said: "We fully support the new regulations as this will improve the environment and people’s health. We have evaluated the alternative methods of IMO 2020 compliance, and decided to go for the new compliant fuel as the vast majority of the shipping companies. We have also started our preparations with tank cleaning as all tanks need to be compliant before 1 January 2020, and we expect to consume compliant fuel before the deadline."

With a fleet of 55 vessels, whereof 40 are under Höegh’s own operational management, it is a substantial amount of bunker tanks that needs to be prepared for compliant fuel.

“For us in Höegh, 40 vessels entails over 450 bunker tanks that must be cleaned according to IMO’s guidelines before end of 2019. This is a huge job”, explains Geir Frode Abelsen, Head of Technical Operations in Höegh Autoliners, who is responsible for getting the fleet ready for IMO 2020.

“Each tank will be cleaned twice according to a set method, before we can be sure that there is no residual from Heavy Sulphur Fuel left in them. This work has already started on board our vessels.” Geir Frode tells us.

In addition to getting the vessels ready for the new fuel, the Bunker department follows the development on where compliant fuel will be made available.

“There is still uncertainty connected to whether smaller bunker ports will have enough compliant fuel as we move in to 2020,” says John Nilsen, Bunker Purchasing Manager. “This is something we expect the refineries to show the shipping industry a solution to, before the new regulations take effect.”

In all Höegh’s commercial departments around the world, people are now also working to secure that our customers are ready for the change. “As we approach the end of 2019, we expect all commercial contracts to reflect the new compliant fuel”, Håkon concludes.