Scrubbers and strategic fuel decisions

Research from Nature Sustainability and S&P Global highlights how fuel spreads, scrubber costs, and evolving carbon rules are shaping bunker strategy under IMO sulfur regulations.

Since the 2020 global sulfur cap under MARPOL Annex VI, shipowners have faced strategic choices between low-sulfur fuels, scrubber installation, or alternative fuels such as LNG. (spglobal.com)

Research from Nature Sustainability (2024) and S&P Global emphasizes that scrubber payback depends on fuel spreads, installation costs, and environmental regulations. PBT assists clients in evaluating these trade-offs, helping to determine when scrubber-equipped vessels or low-sulfur fuel procurement is the most economically and environmentally sound decision.

As regulations evolve, including carbon intensity targets in the IMO 2023 GHG Strategy, PBT advises clients on integrating scrubbers and alternative fuels into long-term bunker strategies, balancing compliance, cost, and operational flexibility.

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