PUBLISHER: Allied Market Research | PRODUCT CODE: 1298217
PUBLISHER: Allied Market Research | PRODUCT CODE: 1298217
A marine scrubber, also known as exhaust gas cleaning system (EGCS), is a technology used in the maritime industry to reduce the emission of harmful gases and particulate matter from the exhaust gases of ships' engines. The system works by removing sulfur oxides (SOx), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and other pollutants from the exhaust gases before they are released into the environment.
Marine scrubbers, or exhaust gas cleaning systems, are used to remove particulate matter and hazardous components, such as sulfur oxides (SOx) and nitrogen oxides (NOx), from the exhaust gases created as a result of combustion processes in marine engines to perform pollution control. The alkaline scrubbing material in the scrubber is pushed through exhaust gas streams to neutralize the gases' acidic nature and remove any particle debris from the exhaust. The used cleaning agent is subsequently collected with wash water, which can either be put in storage or disposed of right away as effluent. The mechanism discharges the cleansed exhaust into the atmosphere. Marine scrubbers employ lime or caustic soda to de-sulfate the water, which results in sulfate-based salts that can be easily discarded because they don't harm the environment. Due to their alkaline nature, scrubbers may use sea water, fresh water with additional calcium or sodium sorbents, or pellets of hydrated lime as the scrubbing medium.
The Asia-Pacific market is the most promising market due to countries such as China and India, whose economies are increasing as their trade with other regions grows and the countries are becoming self-sufficient. Countries such as Australia and South Korea strictly follow the norms, creating demand for the emission reduction products. The rest of Asia-Pacific countries follow the mission of zero emissions; therefore, these countries are also expected to give rise to exhaust gas cleaning systems.
In line with Beijing's objective to establish a regional bunkering hub, China's exports of clean marine fuels increased by 24% in 2021 compared to the previous year. According to figures released by the General Administration of Customs, exports of very low-sulfur fuel oil (VLSFO), which must have a maximum sulphate concentration of 0.5% to abide by IMO emission regulations, reached 19.19 million tons. In contrast, 15.47 million tons were produced in 2020, the year China began to abide by IMO emission regulations. China sold 1.3 million tons of the clean marine fuel for the month of December alone. This is a decrease from the 1.75 million tons sold in November and lower than the 2.47 million tons sold during the same period in 2020. The export business in China is creating more demand of the marine vessels, thus creating more demand for air emission reduction products.
In Japan, despite the COVID-19 outbreak, the technological company Wartsila delivered a record-breaking number of scrubbers in 2020. This highlights the persistent interest in exhaust gas abatement devices as long-term fixes for the global fleet. A sizing order for the installation of a 25 MW scrubber aboard a brand-new Japanese-owned Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) was placed with the Japanese shipyard Japan Marine Union (JMU) in November 2020. The purchase of this brand-new VLCC demonstrates the long-term viability of technologies for exhaust gas treatment. The system will be set up to operate in an open loop. The demand of scrubbers for marine vessels shows how important scrubbers are as full-lifecycle assets.
India is complying with the rules framed by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in 2020 regarding the emission in the international waters. In 2023, a notification from India's Directorate General of Shipping noted that several of the nation's ports currently do not allow the use of scrubbers. According to the Directorate, some Indian ports do not allow ships to berth even when they are using scrubbers to comply with IMO 2020. Prior to berthing, these ports urge the ships to switch to low-sulfur fuel oil. the process that must be followed by all Indian ports to comply with the IMO 2020 Sulfur Cap Requirements for Merchant Ships was made known to the Director General of Shipping. The execution of strict rules and regulation making it mandatory to have a marine scrubber in the ships, thus creating demand for the marine scrubbers in the market.
Asia Pacific countries are also working towards the carbon neutrality and reduction of air emission. Malaysia's carbon policy depends on carbon reduction. The environmental and climate change effects of the sector could be addressed by supporting carbon reduction measures. To ensure safe and secure shipping, Malaysia has accepted approximately half of the IMO treaties, with marine environmental protection being a top priority. While introducing the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP), Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob emphasized that the government's goal is to become carbon neutral by 2050. Another country New Zealand ratified the IMO treaty known as MARPOL Annex VI on May 26, 2022. The standards of Annex VI are implemented into New Zealand law by the Marine Protection Rules Part 199: Prevention of Air Pollution from Ships (Part 199). Progressive implementation of Part 199 begins on August 26, 2022. From May 26, 2022, New Zealand will be a party to the IMO Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL), Annex VI. These developments in the Asia Pacific region are expected to create market for the emission reduction tools and devices.
The marine scrubber market is segmented on the basis of technology type, application, installation, and region. On the basis of technology type, it is divided into wet technology, and dry technology. On the basis of application, it is classified into bulk carriers, container ships, oil tankers, chemical tankers, cruises, and others. On the basis of Installation, it is classified into new build, and retrofit. On the basis of region, the market is analyzed across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA. Growth drivers, restraints, and opportunities are explained in the study to better understand the market dynamics. This study further highlights key areas of investment. In addition, it includes Porter's five forces analysis to understand the competitive scenario of the industry and the role of each stakeholder. The study features strategies adopted by key market players to maintain their foothold in the market.
Companies have adopted product development, partnership, and product launch as their key development strategies in the Marine scrubber market. The key players operating in this market are Alfa Laval AB, Andritz AG, Fuji Electric Co., Ltd., GEA Group AG, Kwang Sung Co Ltd., Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., Pacific Green Marine Technologies, Valmet Oyj, Wartsila Oyj Abp, and Yara International ASA.