AmericasEnvironmentOperations

Hudson Shipping Lines vows not to use any ships fitted with scrubbers

Scrubber pushback has taken a new path with news from America where Hudson Shipping Lines has vowed not to use any scrubber-fitted vessels come the start of the global sulphur cap on January 1 next year.

Hudson is part of the SeaTrade Transport International (STI) group of companies. It tends to have around 70 chartered-in bulk carriers at any given time.

Company president Avi Eilon stated, “We have thoroughly investigated the use and operation of exhaust gas scrubbers and have found that they simply transfer the pollution produced by vessels from the air to the ocean.”

Eilon said the use of scrubbers to allow vessels to continue to burn the dirtiest forms of fuel, high-sulphur fuel oils, violates the spirit and intention of the IMO’s new fuel regulations.

Eilon called on other shipping lines around the world to make similar anti-scrubber commitments in a statement issued on Friday.

As of late May, the total number of scrubbers systems ordered or installed has risen to 3,266, of which 80% are of the open-loop variety.

Sam Chambers

Starting out with the Informa Group in 2000 in Hong Kong, Sam Chambers became editor of Maritime Asia magazine as well as East Asia Editor for the world’s oldest newspaper, Lloyd’s List. In 2005 he pursued a freelance career and wrote for a variety of titles including taking on the role of Asia Editor at Seatrade magazine and China correspondent for Supply Chain Asia. His work has also appeared in The Economist, The New York Times, The Sunday Times and The International Herald Tribune.

Comments

  1. Hudson CEO, Avi Eilon, echoes my view that scrubbers allow vessels to keep burning the dirtiest forms of fuel in violation of IMO 2020’s spirit and intention to protect the environment. Well said, Avi!

  2. Way to go in support of IMO 2020 sulphur cap. It is in the interest of Humanity to protect the environment.

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