Rush to be ‘low-sulphur ready’ could trigger box charter rate surge
As shipowners move to meet IMO requirements ahead of the 2020 sulphur cap, fears grow over a shortfall of available spot charter tonnage. With ships pulled from service to be retrofitted for scrubbers or have engines cleaned to burn low-sulphur fuel, rates could spike as operators fight from a limited pool
Analysts and brokers are forecasting a surge of up to 30% in some sectors