The health of oceans has received a boost with a new ban on scrubber discharge, endorsed by EU environmental ministers and 15 European countries. During a late June meeting of the OSPAR Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic, officials agreed to prohibit the release of pollutants from exhaust gas cleaning systems into the ocean. By 2027, open-loop scrubber discharges will be banned, followed by a ban on closed-loop discharges by 2029.
Scrubber systems, designed to filter harmful substances like sulfur and nitrogen oxides from ship emissions, often inadvertently release pollutants into the ocean. Maarten Verdaasdonk, Project Manager for the North Sea Foundation, criticized this practice, stating that converting air pollution to ocean pollution is unacceptable. While the ban is a significant step for ocean health, Verdaasdonk and others expressed concerns that it does not extend to territorial waters, which limits its overall impact.
Supporters advocate for a broader ban to enhance water quality and protect marine life. Alongside this initiative, Sweden has implemented a similar ban this year, and a London shipping company is adopting modern sails to reduce reliance on polluting fuels.
