DFDS Looks to Employ Older Ferries Away from SECA
The upcoming strict environmental requirements in the North Sea and the Baltic Sea prompts DFDS to turn their attention southwards, reports Maritime Denmark.
DFDS is among those companies that have made most progress in preparing for the new environmental regulations that will come into force on 1 January 2015. The rules require that ships in the Baltic Sea, North Sea and English Channel use oil with max. 0.1 % sulfur.
As an alternative, DFDS has decided to invest DKK 400 million in installation of scrubbers on board 12 of the company's newer ships - and expects to invest smoke cleaning devices on additional 8 ships - which would bring the total environmental bill to around DKK 750 million.
Citing remarks to Børsen by DFDS CEO Niels Smedegaard, Maritime Denmark says that an additional network of freight routes in the Mediterranean and Black Sea may eventually provide opportunities to move around ships and deploy the most modern in Northern Europe and send the older vessels to ply in waters further south.
Source: Maritime Denmark