It becomes easier to verify whether exhaust gas cleaning systems comply with the stricter limit values for sulphur emissions at sea, Danish Maritime Authority (DMA) said welcoming the IMO’s plans to amend the guidelines on approval of exhaust gas cleaning systems.
Namely, last week, the second session of the IMO Sub-Committee on Pollution Prevention and Response (PPR 2) succeeded in reaching agreement on amendments to the verification method for approval of exhaust gas cleaning systems.
According to DMA, this specifically means that it will become possible, on the basis of calculations, to verify whether scrubbers meet the pH values in force for the washwater used to wash sulphur out of the exhaust gas.
The amendment supplements the regulations in the area in force until now, which dictated that pH measurements should be made in the vicinity of the ship during a sea voyage.
”Denmark is striving to make it easier to develop and use solutions capable of reducing sulphur emissions. Therefore, an initiative like this one is a major step in the right direction, ” Director General of the Danish Maritime Authority Andreas Nordseth commented.
The new calculation method is to be approved at the next session of the IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 68) to be held this spring.
Image: DMA