THE Clean Shipping Alliance (CSA) scrubber lobby, fighting port authority partial bans to that would cripple the technology, has welcomed the South African Maritime Safety Authority's (SAMSA) acceptance of exhaust cleaning systems in its territorial waters.

The ports of Singapore and Dubai have banned the discharge of scrubber waste water into their territorial waters, ignoring CSA statements that it poses no environmental risk.



In an IMO 2020 advisory notice issued in March to shipowners, operators, master mariners and bunker suppliers, SAMSA says the use of open-loop, closed-loop or hybrid systems are accepted until further notice.



The decision means that all ships fitted with scrubbers can continue to burn high-sulphur bunker fuel from 2020, and comply with the 0.50 per cent sulphur limit, in South African territorial waters and ports.



SAMSA has also approved the burning of compliant blends such a marine gas oil (MGO) and low sulphur fuel oil (LSFO) as well as liquefied natural gas (LNG) and marine biofuels.



Said CSA executive director Ian Adams: 'We encourage port authorities to seek out the available independent studies that provide detailed analysis of wash water discharges.'



Open loop versions have been selected for more than 80 per cent of the 2,500 ships that will have scrubbers installed by the end of 2019.


WORLD SHIPPING