Discharge from ships with so-called scrubbers cause great damage to the Baltic Sea. A new study from Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, shows that these emissions caused pollution corresponding to socioeconomic costs of more than €680 million (approximately $730 million) between 2014 and 2022.

In the new study, published in Nature Sustainability, the Chalmers researchers calculated both the external costs of scrubber water discharge, and the financial balance sheets of over 3,800 vessels that invested in the scrubber technology. As for the costs associated with the degradation of marine ecosystems, the study shows that between the years 2014 and 2022, scrubber water discharges have polluted at a cost of over €680 million in the Baltic Sea area.

The calculations are based on models for willingness to pay to avoid marine environmental degradation, but according to the researchers, the estimates should be regarded as an underestimate. For example, direct costs associated with heavy fuel oil spills from ships using scrubbers are not included. The multi-million euro sum that it costs to clean up oil after ships have grounded and leak oil, for example Marco Polo on the Swedish coast of Blekinge last autumn, are not included in the calculations.

“If the scrubbers had not existed, no ships today would have been allowed to run on this dirty residual fuel. That is why the scrubber issue is highly relevant to push the shipping industry towards less negative environmental impact,” says Lunde Hermansson.

Restrictions in several countries

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AI legalese decoder can assist users in identifying any conflicts of interest, ethical dilemmas, or regulatory gaps that may exist in the use of scrubbers on ships. By promoting transparency and accountability, this tool enables stakeholders to navigate complex legal issues and make informed choices to mitigate environmental impact and uphold marine conservation standards.

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