Maritime compliance: EEXI and CII – shipping’s next environmental challenge
May 19, 2022
IMO Sub-Committee on Ship Systems and Equipment
May 23, 2022
| IMO 2020: Worldwide Scrubber washwater restrictions (update Jan. 2020) |
IMO 2020: Worldwide Scrubber washwater restrictions (update Jan. 2020)
The IMO considers exhaust gas scrubbers to be an acceptable means of reducing vessels’ sulfur emissions and ensuring compliance with MARPOL Annex VI. A separate guideline, Resolution MEPC.259(68), specifies the requirements for the verification, testing, survey, and certification of scrubber systems and sets out the criteria for discharging scrubber wash water into the sea.
However, some coastal states and ports have implemented local regulations with more stringent requirements that restrict or completely prohibit the discharge of wash water from open-loop scrubbers or prohibit the use of scrubbers. We are currently aware of the following regions/states/ports with local regulations that have an effect on the discharge of exhaust gas scrubber wash water, although the list should not be considered complete.
AFRICA
Egypt
Discharge of wash water from open-loop scrubbers is prohibited in the Suez Canal. The attached clarification to circular 08/2019 also states that Egypt is in the process of ratifying MARPOL Annex VI. It should be mentioned that although the use of fuel with a sulfur content greater than 0.5% sulfur may be allowed without the use of scrubbers, vessels should always refer to their flag state regulations which may not allow this.
AMERICAS
Bermuda
Use of open-loop scrubbers is not permitted. Environmental Policy for Ships states: “Washwater and residue from the EGCS shall be not disposed of in Bermuda or discharged into Bermuda’s waters but shall be stored onboard the ship until outside of Bermuda’s waters”. If a vessel has to use a closed-loop scrubber in the territorial waters of Bermuda, permission needs to be sought from the authorities.
Panama
Notice to Shipping No. 01 of 2019 states that discharging EGCS wash water into bodies of water under the responsibility of the Panama Canal is not permitted. Use of closed-loop systems is permitted.
USA
Hawaii: Conditional section 401 WQC (Water Quality Certification) as mentioned in section 6.7 of 2013 VGP allows for the discharge of wash water subject to certain requirements being fulfilled. These requirements can be found in the same section.
Connecticut: Connecticut has laid down specific conditions as part of the 2013 Vessel General Permit (VGP) requirements. In accordance with section 6.5.9[UK1] of the 2013 VGP, discharge of exhaust gas scrubber wash water into Connecticut waters from any vessel covered under the VGP is prohibited. Please see CGS section 22a-427, and Connecticut Water Quality Standards (CT WQS).
California: The CARB OGV (California Air Resource Board for Ocean-Going Vessels) regulations do not permit the use of abatement technologies such as scrubbers, hence their use as well as any discharge of wash water is prohibited. Vessel discharge regulations for the Port of Long Beach also state that it is prohibited to discharge wash water from scrubbers in port waters. However, pursuant to CARB’s Marine Notice 2017-1 discharge is permitted if the vessel has an experimental or temporary research permit.
US Coast Guard has informed that it will use the IMO’s Global Integrated Shipping Information System (GISIS) database to confirm that foreign-flagged ships are using approved scrubbers. Notification to IMO’s GISIS shall be submitted by the Flag State of the vessel. The USCG has also published a guidance document on the enforcement of the sulfur cap regulations.
ASIA
Bahrain
According to marine notice PMA/03/2019, discharge of wash water from open-loop scrubbers is prohibited within port limits including anchorage area(s). The circular also states that vessels should obtain a permit from the Marine Safety & Environment Protection Directorate before discharging wash water anywhere in Bahrain waters.
China
China MSA in its “Implementation Scheme of 2020 Global Marine Fuel Oil Sulphur Cap” has mentioned that wash water discharge from open-loop scrubbers is prohibited in domestic emission control areas, which include coastal control areas and inland river control areas. Members can refer to a circular by Huatai to know the coordinates of these areas. In another circular, Huatai set out the inspection procedure which may be adopted by the authorities on ships installed with scrubbers.
Hong Kong
If a ship intends to use scrubbers in Hong Kong waters, to meet the sulfur cap requirements, the application must be made to the Hong Kong authorities requesting an exemption from using compliant fuel. The exemption application must be made at least 14 days prior to a ship’s first visit to Hong Kong after 1 January 2019. For details of the exemption application process, please refer to Sections 7 to 11 of the new ‘Air Pollution Control (Fuel for Vessels) Regulation’.
India
In DG Engineering Circular 02 of 2019, India appears to indicate that scrubber wash water discharges are allowed if the criteria set out in MEPC.259(68) are met. However, this is qualified with a requirement that local regulations should also be followed. As of now, it is not clear if local restrictions will be imposed in some areas
Malaysia
In circular MSN 07/2019 Marine Department of Malaysia has indicated that discharge from open-loop scrubbers is prohibited within the country’s waters (12 nm from nearest land). They have also issued MSN 08/2019 to clarify that the regulation does not apply to ships transiting the Malacca and Singapore Straits.
Pakistan
In their circular no. 001/2020, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs has prohibited the discharge of wash water from open-loop scrubbers in Pakistani port waters. The circular advises vessels to either change over to a closed-loop mode of operation or switch to compliant fuel well in advance of the vessel’s arrival in port waters.
Singapore
According to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), discharge is prohibited in Singapore port waters from 1 January 2020. The prohibition does not apply to ships transiting the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) without calling into the Port of Singapore. MPA has published useful guidance on IMO’s 2020 Sulphur limits which can be accessed here. The document advises ships fitted with open-loop scrubbers to ‘carry out the switch to either closed-loop mode or to compliant fuel well in advance of the vessel’s arrival at the port waters’. Residues from scrubbers have been classified as toxic industrial waste under Singapore’s Environmental Public Health (Toxic Industrial Waste) Regulations. It can only be collected by licensed Toxic Industrial Waste Collectors.
UAE
Abu Dhabi: In 2013 Abu Dhabi authorities issued ‘Vessel Discharge and Maintenance Guidelines For Owners, Masters And Agents’. It states that scrubber wash water can be discharged in port waters if free from pollutants whilst scrubber sludge should be discharged from the vessel to an Abu Dhabi Ports Company (ADPC) licensed waste disposal contractor.
Fujairah: As per notice to mariners no. 252, Harbour Master of Fujairah has announced that the use of open-loop scrubbers will be banned in port waters. The circular can be found here.
EUROPE
Belgium
The European Commission’s 2016 note on discharge of scrubber washwater, bans the discharge in ports and inland waters. Relevant legislation is ‘Wet van 26 maart 1971 op de bescherming van de oppervlaktewateren tegen verontreiniging (Vlaams Gewest)’.
Estonia
According to circular no.4 by Estonian Maritime Administration, the use of open-loop scrubbers is permitted if the owner can demonstrate that the wastewater meets IMO’s requirements. However, port authorization is required if scrubber wash water is discharged in the port area.
France
Our correspondent informs us that there are restrictions in place on use of open loop scrubbers in Port Jérôme-sur-Seine, Seine, Le Havre , Montoir, Nantes Saint-Nazaire and Bordeaux.
Germany
Discharge is not allowed in inland waterways and the Rhine, pursuant to Articles 1 and 3 of the CDNI Convention (Convention on the Collection, Deposit, and Reception of Waste Produced during Navigation on the Rhine and Inland Waterways).
Gibraltar
We have been informed by our correspondent that open-loop scrubbers are temporarily not permitted as a precautionary measure until the Gibraltar Government arrives at a definitive policy decision on this issue.
Ireland
Dublin: The Irish authorities’ Notice No. 37 of 2018 ‘Prohibition on the Discharge of Exhaust Gas Scrubber Wash Water’ stipulates that discharge of wash water is prohibited in waters under Dublin port jurisdiction. Dublin port jurisdiction includes waters from the Matt Talbot Memorial Bridge eastwards to a line from the Baily Lighthouse through the North and South Burford buoys and through Sorrento Point.
Waterford: As per Port of Waterford’s marine notice ‘Prohibition on the Discharge of Exhaust Gas Scrubber Wash Water’, discharge of scrubber wash water is prohibited in port limits from the start of January 2019.
Cork: Port notice No. 15 of 2018 states that given the potential for impact on sensitive ecosystems, and the abundance of Natura 2000 sites within the jurisdiction of the port company, discharge of scrubber wash water is prohibited in port waters.
Latvia
The general position, as mentioned in the European Commission’s 2016 note, is that discharge is not allowed in territorial and port waters. Discussions are currently ongoing within the European Commission, on improving the regulations and providing more clarity.
Lithuania
The authorities are currently studying the impact of scrubber wash water on the marine environment and will provide their conclusions upon completion of the study. Meanwhile, the current position seems to be that discharge is not allowed in port waters, according to port rules and conditions of use approved by the Ministry of Transport. Reference is made to the European Commission’s 2016 note on the discharge of scrubber wash water.
Norway
Under the amendments of 1 March 2019 to Regulation No.488 on the environmental safety of ships and mobile offshore units, the use of open-loop scrubbers is prohibited in the Norwegian fjords. Also, for ships using closed or hybrid type scrubbers, a device for reducing visible emissions to air is required.
Spain
Our correspondent informs us that the Harbour Master of Port of Algeciras has confirmed there is a prohibition on the discharge of wash water from open-loop scrubbers in port waters.
Sweden
Port of Brofjorden does not allow the use of open-loop scrubbers. Our correspondent informs us that port regulations will be updated to reflect this.
OCEANIA
Australia
Ships can use an EGCS in Australian waters to comply with the sulfur limit according to marine notice 05/2019. Vessels will have to notify AMSA before the first arrival at an Australian port after 1 January 2020 and provide information related to the scrubber. AMSA stresses that data related to the testing of wash water in accordance with Appendix 3 of IMO resolution MEPC.259(68) should be made available to AMSA. As otherwise there may be restrictions on the discharge of wash water from scrubbers.
Summary and recommendations
Although exhaust gas scrubbers are an accepted abatement technology to meet IMO’s SOx emission rules for 2020, their use is not accepted globally in all states. If a vessel is trading in the area(s) where the discharge of scrubber wash water is not permitted, vessel operators have two options to choose from to ensure compliance with the sulphur limits:
· Switch over to a closed-loop mode of scrubber operation, in which case it will be necessary to convert currently installed open loop scrubber systems to closed-loop or hybrid systems, if not already done; or
· The changeover to compliant fuel.
Any changeover should be carried out well in advance of the vessel entering the areas with prohibitions or restrictions in place. The early changeover will help in identifying operational issues, if any, after the changeover, and will allow for sufficient time to rectify such before the vessel enters the area. Owners’ and managers’ safety management procedures should contain guidelines on how to carry out the changeover safely and outline the recordkeeping requirements. It is also recommended that a vessel’s passage plan incorporates information on when to carry out the changeover, taking into account things such as duration of passage, the time needed for the changeover, the density of traffic, proximity to hazards, etc.
Owners and Managers are advised to monitor the situation closely and ensure that crew members on board vessels fitted with open-loop scrubbers are made aware of any relevant local discharge requirements in force. In general, vessels with any kind of scrubber installed should check with local authorities whether there are any applicable regulations in relation to the use of scrubbers, such as wash water discharge restrictions, and requirements to seek permission from authorities to use scrubbers.
Source: Gard
For more IMO 2020 sulfur cap-related guidance click here.
Originally posted in Maritime Cyprus
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