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