Environmentalists Call for Ban on Scrubber Discharge

Environmental NGO Pacific Environment has called for a ban on scrubber discharge as the IMO’s Pollution Prevention and Response group prepares to meet. 

Pacific Environment has released a report - Poison in the Water: The Call to Ban Scrubber Discharge, The Health and Environmental Costs Industry Wants Us to Ignore - which lays out the case for the IMO to ban scrubber discharge into the marine environment.

The report claims that unrestricted scrubber use results in substantial environmental and human health costs. These negative costs include: 

• Scrubber wastewater is highly toxic, being significantly hotter and up to 100,000 times more acidic than surrounding waters. In particular, the report suggests that scrubber water contains numerous pollutants including heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and numerous nitrates and nitrites. 
• Scrubber wastewater, in particular PAHs, has been linked to human health risks including endocrine disruption and DNA damage.
• Wastewater has the potential to harm Indigenous and subsistence fishing communities. 

Commenting on the report, Kay Brown, Arctic Policy Director for Pacific Environment, said: 

“Scrubber discharge is poisoning our waters and marine environment. Our report underscores the destructive toxicity of scrubber discharge on the marine environment, impacting humans, wildlife and Indigenous communities’ subsistence activities. The report reveals that most ships have already recovered their initial capital costs making banning scrubber discharge feasible.”

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Whilst the use of scrubbers is coming under scrutiny, it’s important if a vessel has them, they are in good order. If you want to ensure the scrubbers on your vessels are fit for purpose, then speak to Brookes Bell about our scrubber corrosion inspection services today.

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