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Opinion: Politicians are swimming in a ‘sea of scrubber ignorance’

Lawmaking framework of most countries formed by politicians without technical understanding of domain.
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Scrubber technology firm Pacific Green Technologies (PGT) on Monday (12 August) published an article ‘Politicians Are Swimming In A Sea Of Scrubber Ignorance – The Shipping Industry Needs To Educate Them’ explaining legislators appear to be making judgements on the ban of open loop scrubbers at ports based on “common sense” instead of science:

During World War II, the legend goes, the American military sought help from statistician Abraham Wald, a senior member of the elite, but secret, Statistical Research Group.
Wald was asked to advise on where would be the most efficient place to install armour on a plane.

The military had statistics taken from all the planes that had returned from combat. The data showed that the least damage by far was found on the engines. Yet, this was where Walden recommended adding armour reinforcement.

The Air Force were surprised. Wald explained that the data was based only on planes that had returned. To identify the aircrafts’ weakness it was necessary to look not where the bullet holes of surviving planes were, but where they weren’t. That was likely where the lost aircraft had been shot.

The most obvious answer to a question is not always the right one.

Yet, in answering the question of how best to manage the environmental concerns of coastal waters, legislators appear to be making judgements based on “common sense” instead of science.

Recently, China’s Maritime Safety Administration (MSA) published a draft bill that would effectively ban the use of open loop scrubbers in Chinese waters.

The bill follows a ban earlier this year on the use of open loop scrubbers in specific areas, and threatens to extend that ban to all coastal regions within 12 nautical miles from the baseline of China’s territorial sea and regions near the southern island province of Hainan.

If the bill is adopted, only hybrid or closed-loop scrubbers will be permitted in these waters when IMO 2020 takes effect in January. Ships utilising open loop scrubbers will need to switch to IMO 2020-compliant fuel.

The rationale for this decision? It corresponds with China’s war on pollution.

A similar argument was offered by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) late last year when it announced that it would ban open loop scrubbing in its waters from 1 January 2020.

However, in neither case have the authorities offered any scientific corroboration for their decisions.

Part of the problem is a structural one. The lawmaking framework of most countries is formed by politicians who do not have a technical understanding of the domain in which they are being required to legislate.

At best, they base their decisions on expert advice, but their motivations are routinely political. And increasingly it is politically expedient to vote in favour of the environment.

This is, in effect, a good thing. But not when the understanding of the environment’s wellbeing is skewed.

It’s clear to see how legislators arrive at the conclusion that open loop scrubbers pose a threat to marine health. Open loop scrubbers use seawater to clean ship’s exhaust gases, the natural alkalinity of the water helping to neutralise the sulphuric acid that is formed as a byproduct.

The wastewater from this process is discharged back into the ocean, along with the sulphur compounds that have been cleaned from the exhaust gases.

To the layman, which includes almost all politicians and the voting public who keep them employed, washwater being discharged into the sea sounds dangerous. Surely, depositing sulphur into the ocean must be bad?

Well, no.

The naturally-high sulphur content of the world’s oceans means that the additional sulphur from scrubbing washwater will represent a tiny fraction of change. Apart from a small number of shallow or uniquely sensitive marine ecosystems, the environmental impact of open loop scrubbing will be negligible.

A recent report released by Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) concluded that the operation of open loop scrubbers with high sulphur fuel oil is not only safe, it is also preferable to burning low sulphur fuel alone.

Scrubbers remove up to 94% of the particulate matter found in ships’ exhaust fumes, something that cannot be achieved by simply switching to low sulphur fuel.

Furthermore, the Clean Shipping Alliance 2020 earlier this year released the results of a three-year study of the largest washwater data set in marine history.

More than 280 samples were assessed against 54 different test parameters by ISO accredited independent laboratories. The results were then evaluated by classification Society DNV GL’s Maritime Advisory Services and the data compared to various water quality standards.

The research confirmed that the scrubber washwater consistently adhered to IMO regulations, as well as numerous international measurement criteria.

Apart from exonerating open loop scrubbers, the study emphasised an important point: the IMO already has strict standards by which it judges environmental safety. These standards are the foundation for IMO 2020 and were developed by marine and environmental experts – these standards were not drawn up by shipowners or refinery owners.

Open loop scrubbers not only satisfy these criteria, they are a specifically permitted solution for shipowners seeking IMO 2020 compliance.

Despite these facts, the scrubbing industry will clearly need to take the lead in educating lawmakers so that they can make more informed decisions, and help their constituents to do the same.

With so many well-reasoned and necessary environmental campaigns at play – IMO 2020 being one of them – it can be easy to get carried away with sentiment at the cost of science.

Politicians and regulators have a responsibility to remember this and and inform themselves of both sides of the debate. This is no time for ignorance.

Source: Pacific Green Technologies
Published: 15 August, 2019
 

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Winding up

Singapore: High Court to hear Norvic Shipping Asia winding up application on 31 July

Application for the winding up of Norvic Shipping Asia Pte Ltd was filed by Netherlands-registered Mur Shipping BV on 8 April, according to Government Gazette notice.
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An application for the winding up of Norvic Shipping Asia Pte Ltd was filed by Netherlands-registered Mur Shipping BV on 8 April, according to a Tuesday (21 July) notice on the Government Gazette.

It noted the winding up application is directed to be heard before the Judge sitting in the General Division of the High Court at 10am on 31 July.

Any creditor or contributory of the company desiring to support or oppose the making of an order on the winding up application may appear at the time of hearing by himself or his counsel for that purpose.

A copy of the winding up application will be furnished to any creditor or contributory of the company requiring the copy of the winding up application by the solicitors of the applicant’s, Oon & Bazul LLC, on payment of the regulated charge for the same.

The Applicant’s address is Hiridostraat 5, Gebouw Prismatrium, 1101CW Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

The Applicant’s solicitors are Oon & Bazul LLC of 103 Penang Rd, #04-04/05/06 Singapore 238467. 

Queries on the winding up application may be directed to the following email addresses: [email protected] and [email protected].

 

Photo credit: Manifold Times
Published: 22 July, 2026

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Methanol

World Fuel and partners complete first green methanol bunkering of car carrier in Shanghai

Operation involved the delivery of approximately 2,800 MT of green methanol to “Arctic Tern” via a ship-to-ship transfer using SIPG Energy’s dedicated methanol bunkering vessel “M/V Hai Gang Zhi Yuan”.
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World Fuel and partners complete first green methanol bunkering of car carrier in Shanghai

Marine fuel provider World Fuel on Tuesday (21 July) said it successfully completed the first green methanol bunkering of M/V Arctic Tern, with EUKOR Car Carriers and SIPG Energy at the Port of Shanghai. 

Arctic Tern is the first vessel in the new Shaper Class series of car carriers. 

The operation involved the delivery of approximately 2,800 MT of green methanol to Arctic Tern via a ship-to-ship transfer using SIPG Energy’s dedicated methanol bunkering vessel M/V Hai Gang Zhi Yuan, the largest vessel of its kind in operation. 

The bunkering operation was carried out at Haitong Terminal, Waigaoqiao Port Area, Shanghai Port, with cargo handling operations conducted simultaneously during bunkering.

This marks EUKOR Car Carriers’ first green methanol operation and the first time Arctic Tern has bunkered methanol since its delivery on 9 July. The operation marked the first bunkering at Shanghai Port of green methanol produced locally in Shanghai for an international PCTC operator. 

It also demonstrated the city’s integrated green methanol value chain, spanning local production, storage and bunkering, and established a replicable “Shanghai Model” for green methanol supply.

World Fuel arranged the supply and delivery of the fuel on behalf of EUKOR Car Carriers, working with SIPG Energy as the physical supplier at the Port of Shanghai.

The green methanol supplied was produced from municipal solid waste, ISCC-EU certified, and had a carbon intensity value below 25 gCO₂e/MJ.

Arctic Tern is the first of fourteen Shaper Class vessels ordered by Wallenius Wilhelmsen. With a capacity of 9,300 car equivalent units and methanol dual-fuel capability, the vessel will be operated by EUKOR Car Carriers, jointly owned by Wallenius Wilhelmsen and Hyundai Motor Group. Following her first green methanol bunkering, Arctic Tern will continue her maiden voyage from Asia to Europe.

Xavier Leroi, COO Shipping Services at Wallenius Wilhelmsen and CEO of EUKOR Car Carriers, said: “Completing Arctic Tern’s first green methanol bunkering shortly after delivery is a significant milestone towards our decarbonisation ambition for both EUKOR Car Carriers and Wallenius Wilhelmsen. It demonstrates how investments in next-generation vessel technology and fuel flexibility are being translated into real-world operations. 

“This achievement reflects the strong collaboration between all parties involved. Together, we have shown how partnerships across the maritime value chain can help make lower-emission fuels available and operationally viable at scale.”

Mark Tamsitt, SVP Global Marine Sales at World Fuel, said, “The first bunkering event with a new fuel is a significant moment for any shipowner, and our role is to make it as seamless as possible. By connecting EUKOR Car Carriers with SIPG Energy’s proven green methanol capability at the Port of Shanghai, we were able to deliver on reliable supply, fuel quality, and safe processes. As more of our customers bring methanol dual-fuel tonnage into service, we are committed to being the partner that makes these kinds of operations routine.”

Mr. Zhang Da, General Manager of SIPG Energy, said, “Welcoming Arctic Tern to the Port of Shanghai for her first green methanol bunkering demonstrates the strength and maturity of our supply capability. Building on our well-established methanol ship-to-ship bunkering services for container vessels, we have already extended such services to pure car and truck carriers (PCTCs). This bunkering sets a new record for the largest single SIMOPs green methanol bunkering for PCTCs in China, marking another step in building Shanghai’s position as a global green energy hub for international shipping.”

This operation follows Wallenius Wilhelmsen’s announcement on 9 July that Arctic Tern would complete her first methanol bunkering shortly after delivery. The vessel entered service on routes between Asia and Europe immediately following handover from China Merchants Jinling Shipyard in Nanjing.

 

Photo credit: World Fuel
Published: 22 July, 2026

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Ammonia

HPA and MB Energy develop safety concept for STS ammonia bunkering

HPA says the Port of Hamburg will become “bunker ready” for ammonia, laying the groundwork for safe and reliable ammonia bunkering in the future.
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July 22, 2026

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HPA and MB Energy develop safety concept for STS ammonia bunkering

The Hamburg Port Authority (HPA) and integrated energy company MB Energy on Tuesday (21 July) said they have completed a comprehensive risk analysis and developed a dedicated safety concept for ship-to-ship ammonia bunkering.

MB Energy said the analysis lays the groundwork for the safe introduction of ammonia as a future marine fuel.

“With our planned ammonia import terminal in Hamburg-Blumensand, MB Energy intends to provide the reliable land side supply infrastructure needed to support this transition across northern German ports,” it said in a social media post. 

Mabanaft Group was renamed to MB Energy last year and merged over 50 existing brands under one identity. 

Separately, HPA said the Port of Hamburg will become “bunker ready” for ammonia, laying the groundwork for safe and reliable ammonia bunkering in the future.

“The focus is in particular on container ships, cruise ships as well as RoRo and ConRo (Container/RoRo) ships,” it said. 

“We expect ammonia to establish itself as an alternative marine marine fuel in the coming years. With our preparatory work, we are already creating the conditions to welcome the first ammonia-powered ships in Hamburg and to bunker them safely.:

HPA added that the import terminal for ammonia planned by MB Energy from 2029 will make a decisive contribution to ensuring the reliable availability of ammonia as a bunker fuel in northern German ports in the long term. 

“The use of an ammonia bunker barge is considered a possible addition to the landside infrastructure to enable ship bunkering in the port and beyond in the future,” it said.

Related: Mabanaft Group renames as MB Energy, merging over 50 brands under one identity

 

Photo credit: Hamburg Port Authority
Published: 22 July, 2026

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