Horizon Lines Inc. said Jan. 9 that it has entered into a
supply agreement with Dutch marine supplier Alfa Laval Aalborg Nijmegen BV for
design and procurement of PureSox 2.0 exhaust gas cleaning systems (scrubbers)
for is three D7-class vessels that operate in the Alaska trade.
The multiple inlet hybrid system, which would clean the
exhaust gas from the main engine as well as the main generators, is the first
system of its kind for a Jones Act container vessel. Horizon said it expects to
incur a total of about $18 million of capital spending in connection with the
three vessels.
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.
Horizon also says it has received a conditional waiver from
the US Coast Guard and US Environmental Protection Agency allowing it to
operate the three D7 ships in the North American ECA on low-sulfur heavy fuel
while it pursues installation of the scrubbers.
Horizon says that the scrubber systems will be developed and
installed in close coordination with Alfa Laval, the American Bureau of Shipping,
and the US regulatory agencies.
In a news release, Horizon said it “values the partnership”
with the EPA and the USCG in supporting the advancement of the exhaust gas
cleaning systems project, and “looks forward to sharing the knowledge and
experience gained during the evolution of this project with the maritime
industry.”
Horizon Lines announced Nov. 11 that it has entered into a merger agreement under which
Matson Inc. is to acquire the stock of Horizon, including its Alaska operations
and the assumption of all non-Hawaii business liabilities.
The Boards of Directors of both companies have already
approved the transaction; it is expected to close later in 2015.
