For many operators, scrubbing technology is the cost effective option to assure compliance with existing and future legislation covering both fuel sulphur and potential particulate restrictions.
Amendments to Marpol Annex VI were approved in October 2008. Scrubbing is now an accepted option to low sulphur fuel grades.
Marine legislation is constantly changing, both globally and regionally. Monitoring and understanding the application & implications of change is a challenge. Legislation is becoming more onerous and this trend will continue. Ship operators need timely and accurate feedback on impending legislative changes and to be proactive in preparing and responding to future legislation and regulations. Awaiting implementation deadlines will often not provide sufficient time to effectively adjust fleet emissions resulting in additional costs or non-compliance risking ship detention.
In a desire to improve air quality, regulators seek to reduce emissions to air from ships. In this it is inevitable that abatement technology will play a leading role in any compliance strategy. The current focus of attention includes oxides of sulphur (SOx), oxides of nitrogen, (NOx) and particulate matter, (PM). Options to control SOx and NOx emissions are widely known, however the control of PM emissions is significantly more challenging. Nevertheless IMO at a global level and EPA/California Air Resources Board (CARB) at a regional level are currently working on PM limits.
Regulators
The International Maritime Organisation is the main regulatory body which provides standards for safety of operations and of the environment for shipping on a global basis. Once the measures proposed by the IMO are agreed and ratified by its member-countries, they become law at country level as governments delegate monitoring to Port Sate Control.
Some localities may choose to implement their own regulations either in addition to or ahead of IMO to deal with specific problem areas or imminent requirements in their locality. In Europe, the EU Commission (DG Environment, Directive 2005/33/EC) has been very active in the application of sulphur control areas complimentary to the Marpol Annex VI provisions. Other authorities have also been effectively tackling poor air quality caused by increased shipping traffic at their ports, for example the California Air Resources Board (CARB - Advisory statement from CARB on the rule) and United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
