Hudson Shipping Lines vows ‘true sulphur cap compliance’

Dry bulk maritime transportation firm Hudson Shipping Lines on Friday (14 June) announced it will not employ vessels with scrubbers installed for the purpose of meeting the new IMO 2020 standards.

“We have thoroughly investigated the use and operation of exhaust gas scrubbers and have found that they simply transfer the pollution produced by vessels from the air to the ocean,” said Hudson President Avi Eilon.

He also noted that the use of these scrubbers, which allow vessels to continue burning high-sulphur fuel oils, violates the spirit and intention of the IMO’s new fuel regulations.

Rather than employ vessels that use ocean polluting scrubbers Hudson will instead set an example for other companies in the maritime industry by exclusively burning fuels that comply with the IMO2020 regulations.

“These new regulations give our industry a chance to improve its impact on the environment, and Hudson is going to be a leader for the industry in moving to cleaner burning fuels”, said Eilon.

“It is hoped that if more companies join Hudson in using fuels that comply with the global sulphur cap that many countries and areas near the busiest shipping lanes will see significant reductions in pollution and pollution-related health conditions.”

Further, Eilon notes Hudson is looking to join and support organizations that promote the use of sulphur cap-compliant fuels to encourage ship owners to move away from ocean-polluting scrubber technologies.

Published: 17 June, 2018