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Lloyd’s Register has published a new guide, Understanding Exhaust Gas Treatment Systems, to give ship owners and operators an overview of the related technology and emerging regulations needed to make sound business decisions.

The technical team at Lloyd’s Register worked closely with industry and used project experience to develop the guidance.

Exhaust gas treatment systems (EGTS), or scrubbers as they are known, are one of a number of options available to meet ever stricter emissions regulations. EGTS will not be suitable for all ship types or operators, and the age of assets will also be a factor in making commercial decisions.

Katharine Palmer, Lloyd’s Register’s Environmental Manager, explained: "The implications of emissions compliance will vary from owner to owner; for example, the needs of a Baltic ferry operator are likely to be very different to those of a bulk carrier owner whose ships trade globally. For us, it's not a question of being for or against these treatment systems. It's all about building understanding of how scrubbers work, when they may be suitable, and providing operators with the information and confidence they need to make investment decisions."

Ms Palmer said that with new technologies emerging, providing the right support throughout the decision-making and design process is critical, whilst the challenge of meeting emissions-compliance requirements and reducing ship-energy consumption are closely related. She added that the guide provides a clear picture of the technical realities involved in installing and operating EGTS, using case studies and real-world examples.

Earlier this year, Lloyd’s Register introduced its ECA Calculator, a cost-scenario modelling tool, to help the industry identify cost-effective routes to emissions compliance. The new EGTS guide aims to provide further support to the industry at a time when owners and operators are preparing to decide on compliance strategies.

The guide was developed with the support of the Shipping Emissions, Abatement and Trading (SEAaT), an organisation comprising owner-operators who are looking for cost-effective compliance solutions.

SEAaT General Secretary, John Aitken, commented: "SEAaT is happy to have assisted in the development of this very useful and timely guide to the issue of shipboard exhaust gas treatment. As regulations concerning vessel emissions to air become more stringent, this guide will be of considerable assistance to ship owners and operators as they look for the most cost-effective means of compliance."