The recent decision by North East Atlantic environmental organisation OSPAR to restrict the use of Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems (‘scrubbers’) in the North Atlantic ports and inland waters of the contracting parties (member states) of OSPAR, projected to start in 2027, has been called into question by the Clean Shipping Alliance (CSA).
According to CSA, which represents major shipping companies that have adopted scrubber technology as a means of compliance with IMO environmental regulation, most (though not all) of the environmental ministers representing OSPAR member states have agreed to create what is in effect a major regional maritime regulation independent of discussion with IMO, the leading authority issuing EGCS guidelines, and the globally recognized competent international organization for marine EGCS over the last decades.
CSA Chairman Capt Mike Kaczmarek said: “We don’t see the OSPAR move as ‘historic’ but it is unfortunate and unnecessary. Of course this will have an impact, including further complicating today’s already complex map of environmental restrictions for shipping operations in Europe, but above that we are very disappointed in the low level of credible science used by OSPAR to support this decision, including a total lack of evidence of any harm to the marine environment. There clearly is no environmental urgency to justify this rush to regulate.”
Kaczmarek continued: “Even more surprising is that almost no environmental risk assessments — we only know of one or two, which showed little/no risk — have been conducted by the OSPAR members for the operations of these systems in their own waters, as is recommended by the IMO before considering any restrictive actions. And all the members, including Denmark, Sweden, and Finland, which have their own restrictions starting this week, have this technical ability”.
Although some authorities are still relying on a precautionary principle to justify EGCS restrictions, CSA considers this should only be invoked when supported by some scientifically credible evidence; the OSPAR reference studies, however, don’t appear to rise to this level. Also, although it is not clear that they have been considered by OSPAR, there is a large and growing body of credible scientific studies, from many sources, that fully evaluate EGCS discharge water quality, the potential for accumulation, and risk to the environment, including in ports.
Kaczmarek added: “We believe that responsible regulators and scientists in each OSPAR member state may wish to have a thorough technical understanding of their subject before actually initiating restrictions, and the coming period would be well used by OSPAR members to fill in data gaps by conducting sampling, testing, and risk evaluations in their own waters, using standard scientific methods, and not just rely on speculative reports by others.”
Image: Scrubber by ME Production on Torm vessel (source: ME Production/Torm)
