EMEA News
IMO to Amend Scrubber Guidelines to Help Shippers Meet Sulfur Rules
The Danish Maritime Authority (DMA) Tuesday welcomed an agreement by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to amend guidelines on the approval of exhaust gas cleaning systems, or "scrubbers."
DMA said the new guidelines are designed make it easier to approve scubbers and assist shipping companies in meeting sulfur limit rules, such as those tightened in 2015 for Emissions Control Areas (ECAs) in North America and Northwestern Europe.
"With the current regulations it is difficult for ship owners and manufacturers of exhaust gas cleaning systems to document the functioning of the systems," said DMA.
In particular, scrubber users are required to show that washwater used to reduce sulfur oxides emissions is not above a certain level of acidity before being discharged into the sea.
Rather than having to measure pH levels within the vicinity of the ship, the new amended guidelines are expected to provide for an alternative calculation-based method of recording pH compliance.
"Denmark is striving to make it easier to develop and use solutions capable of reducing sulphur emissions," said DMA Director General, Andreas Nordseth.
"Therefore, an initiative like this one is a major step in the right direction."
This month, Lloyd's Register said it had developed a calculation-based methodology for use by shipowners to "ensure that the pH emission limit is not relaxed, discharges comply with the intent of the guidelines and pollution shift is prevented."
