EMEA News
German Environmentalists Criticise Scrubbers
The Association for the Protection of the German North Sea Coast (SDN) has criticised the use of scrubbers as a method of reducing pollution from the shipping industry, German media reports.
SDN said that, while scrubbers reduce emissions of sulfur oxides (SOx) from ship exhausts into the air, the technology often facilitates the discharge of sulfur into the sea instead - as is the case with so called "open loop" scrubbing systems.
Such discharges are likely to lead to the acidification of seawater, particularly along busy coastal routes, the environmental organisation says.
SND also said the effectiveness of scrubbers is difficult to control, suggesting that shipowners and authorities may not be able to accurately monitor their performance in reducing SOx emissions.
In addition, shipowners may be tempted to neglect the upkeep of scrubbers, suggested SDN, since maintenance costs for the equipment are high.
Instead of using scrubbers, SDN said sulfur reduction efforts should be focussed on reducing sulfur content at the refining stage.
"To carry out the reduction of pollutants in fuel refineries would be better," it said.
"There, it is simpler and easier to monitor."
The medium term goal should be that only marine diesel or Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) are permitted for use within European waters, it added.
Since January 1, 2015, the sulfur content of marine fuel used by vessels operating within Emissions Control Areas (ECAs) has been limited to 0.10 percent by weight, but approved technology that provides an equivalent method of compliance, such as a scrubber, is also permitted.
Last month Germany's Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union (NABU) levelled similar criticism at scrubbers, branding them "no solution to air pollution from ships."
