In ship construction, Scrubbers, or exhaust gas cleaning systems, are installed on ships to reduce air pollution caused by sulfur oxides (SOx) emitted when burning heavy fuel oil. [1] A prevalent type is the open loop scrubber, which uses seawater to wash exhaust gases and then discharges the resulting polluted washwater directly into the sea. [2] [3] These systems have sparked significant environmental debate due to their impacts on marine ecosystems. [4] [5] [6]
Open loop scrubbers became widespread after the International Maritime Organization (IMO) implemented a global sulfur emissions cap in 2020. [7] They allow ships to continue using less expensive, high-sulfur heavy fuel oil while meeting air quality regulations, shifting the environmental burden from air to water. [8] [9] As of 2022, in some regions like the Baltic Sea, the number of ships fitted with these systems has quadrupled in recent years. [10] [11] With this, the demand for marine scrubbers have increased significantly. The Marine Scrubber Market, which was valued at around USD 6.1 Billion in 2023, is estimated to reach USD 22.3 Billion by 2032 registering a growth at 15.7% CAGR from 2024 to 2032. [12]
Open loop scrubbers have been subject to intense scientific scrutiny. Research shows that:
Growing concern over the environmental impact of open loop scrubbers has led to increasing regulatory restrictions. [22] [23] Many ports and jurisdictions have banned or restricted the use of open loop scrubbers in their waters, requiring ships to use either closed loop systems or compliant low-sulfur fuels instead. [24] [25] [26] [27]
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