Strong economic incentives of ship scrubbers promoting pollution

Anna Lunde Hermansson (), Ida-Maja Hassellöv, Tiia Grönholm, Jukka-Pekka Jalkanen, Erik Fridell, Rasmus Parsmo, Jesper Hassellöv and Erik Ytreberg
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Anna Lunde Hermansson: Department of Mechanics and Maritime Sciences
Ida-Maja Hassellöv: Department of Mechanics and Maritime Sciences
Tiia Grönholm: Finnish Meteorological Institute
Jukka-Pekka Jalkanen: Finnish Meteorological Institute
Erik Fridell: Department of Mechanics and Maritime Sciences
Rasmus Parsmo: Department of Mechanics and Maritime Sciences
Jesper Hassellöv: Department of Mechanics and Maritime Sciences
Erik Ytreberg: Department of Mechanics and Maritime Sciences

Nature Sustainability, 2024, vol. 7, issue 6, 812-822

Abstract: Abstract In response to stricter regulations on ship air emissions, many shipowners have installed exhaust gas cleaning systems, known as scrubbers, allowing for use of cheap residual heavy fuel oil. Scrubbers produce large volumes of acidic and polluted water that is discharged to the sea. Due to environmental concerns, the use of scrubbers is being discussed within the International Maritime Organization. Real-world simulations of global scrubber-vessel activity, applying actual fuel costs and expenses related to scrubber operations, show that 51% of the global scrubber-fitted fleet reached economic break even by the end of 2022, with a surplus of €4.7 billion in 2019 euros. Within five years after installation, more than 95% of the ships with the most common scrubber systems reach break even. However, the marine ecotoxicity damage cost, from scrubber water discharge in the Baltic Sea Area 2014–2022, amounts to >€680 million in 2019 euros, showing that private economic interests come at the expense of marine environmental damage.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41893-024-01347-1

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