China’s COSCOSHIPPING has significantly increased its usage of Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems (EGCS) over the last twelve months, according to our annual review of carriers’ scrubber uptake.
The Chinese group was the biggest mover and shaker during the year, adding 417,827 teu in scrubber-fitted tonnage in 2024. It pushes the group up from 8th to 5th place in the ranking of operators of scrubber tonnage by capacity.
COSCO had around 10% of its fleet fitted two years ago, which has now risen to 30%. Among others, it follows the fitting of scrubbers on sixteen conventionally powered newbuildings delivered in 2024, including six megamaxes from China.
Meanwhile, an additional 300,000 teu of scrubber-fitted tonnage will be delivered to the Chinese group in 2025-2028, including OOCL’s series of ten 16,828 teu ‘flower’ maxi-neo-panamaxes, and COSCO’s six-strong 13,600 teu series for 2027 delivery.
The total number of scrubber-fitted ships in the global container fleet reached a high of 1,385 ships at the start of 2025, equivalent to 12,680,166 teu. This represents a rise of 263 units or 2,427,799 teu from a year earlier. The share of the total fleet is now 41% versus 36% a year ago.
Source: Alphaliner
