Horizon Lines Gets Time to Install Scrubbers

The United States Coast Guard and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have granted a conditional waiver from the North American Emissions Control Area (ECA) fuel sulfur content requirements to Horizon Lines, while the company installs Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems on its three ships operating in the Alaska trade.

The permit will allow these Horizon vessels to use low-sulfur heavy fuel oil in their main engines while operating between Washington state and Alaska.

Horizon has entered into a supply agreement with Alfa Laval Aalborg Nijmegen BV for design and procurement of the PureSox 2.0 EGCS for the three Horizon D7-class ships which operate in the Alaska trade.

The installation of scrubbers is expected to set the company back around USD 18 million. Installation of the first system is planned to begin on the Horizon Kodiak in September 2015, and completion of the project is expected by December 31, 2016.

Back in November, Horizon announced the sale of its Alaska business to Matson Inc., and its Hawaii operations to Pasha Group.