Five Ferry Operators Get EU Funding to Install Scrubbers

Five European ferry operators are to receive European Union (EU) grants totalling EUR 48 million towards the cost of installing exhaust scrubber systems to meet the 0.1% sulphur emissions limit in force since January.

The awards are among the latest under the multi-annual Motorways of the Seas programme – part of the EU’s Connect Europe Facility (CEF) – and include EUR 18 million for the Grimaldi Group’s Finnlines division, EUR 9m to DFDS, EUR 8m to Stena Line, EUR 7m to Brittany Ferries and EUR 6m to Scandlines.

The European Commission invited bids for the current phase of CEF financial support last September. From 700 applications, 276 projects were recommended to the CEF Committee in June and confirmed earlier this month – marking a record EUR 13.1 billion round of investment in transport infrastructure.

Regulatory affairs director Johan Roos said: ”We were very glad to show officials the enormous economic and technical challenges involved in retrofitting this equipment. It is extremely gratifying that our members’ efforts have now been recognised in the shape of financial assistance.”