EMEA News
Shipowners: Clarification on Scrubbers Needed
The European Community Shipowners' Associations (ECSA) are calling for European authorities to clarify regulations on the use of scrubbers, which many ship owners plan to use to comply with the new sulfur limits that take effect at the start of next year.
The group notes that member states have different laws on the discharge of water used to filter exhaust, and EU water Framework Directive also lacks clarity on the classification of the discharges.
"Not only does the current uncertainty jeopardise investments already made by operators, it also hampers the commissioning of future installations, while time is dangerously running out" said ECSA Secretary-General Patrick Verhoeven.
"We urge the Commission and the Member States to clarify these points lest some operators start retrofitting their ships too late to be compliant with the new rules by 01 January 2015."
Isabelle Ryckbost, secretary-general of the European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) said the lack of clarity is a particular problem for the use of open-loop scrubber systems, which return used water to the ocean.
"Policy makers should work towards a more coherent approach both at EU and national level as concerns the conditions under which this technology can be used in the different Member States," she said.
A number of scrubber orders this year, including from Norway's Solvang ASA and Finland's Finnlines Plc., were for open-loop scrubbers.
