Scrubbers are essentially a system that "cleans up" sulfur dioxide emissions. The performance of specific types of scrubbers, after 4-5 years of use, on ships of the ocean shipping industry is causing strong concern in the Greek shipping community.

 

"Naftemporiki" is expected to start research to demonstrate the efficiency and credibility of these systems, also requesting information from the Association of Technical Directors of Hellenic Shipping (Martecma).

 

Scrubbers, which are essentially a system that "cleans up" sulfur dioxide emissions, were one of the first regulations adopted globally as part of the shipping industry's efforts to reduce its environmental footprint.

 

The alternative for ships without scrubbers is to use very low sulfur oil as fuel, but this is usually much more expensive than conventional oil.

 

Many companies have chosen to install scrubbers on their ships, especially in tramp shipping such as the Greek one, in order to ensure that they will not face issues of fuel availability with a very low sulfur content, in distant ports.

 

An attempt is being made to assess the results of the use of scrubbers four years after their installation on a very large number of Greek-owned ships of the ocean shipping. 

 

According to data handed over to "Naftemporiki," many systems produced by even a famous brand in scrubber manufacturing, have turned out to be particularly problematic.

 

"Naftemporiki" will continue its effort to gather sufficient data in order to publish the results regarding the efficiency of these systems.