A debate is raging over the environmental impact of scrubbers, but for Navig8, the question was decided — at least on current data — some time ago.
There is ample evidence that wastewater from open-loop scrubbers does not contaminate oceans beyond acceptable regulatory bounds, the company maintains.
It is the opinion of top executives Nicolas Busch and Gary Brocklesby, but they lean on the view of the firm’s research director, Paul Marsh, who has a PhD in chemistry from the University of Bristol in the UK. Marsh has extensively reviewed studies to date and came to a clear conclusion.
“It’s quite easy to make mis-statements based on some intuitive thought where you’re taking toxic waste and placing it straight into the mouths of dolphins and whales, but in reality that’s fanciful,” Busch says.
Brocklesby adds: “It’s fake news if you keep saying it.”
Marsh points out that a lot of work has been done on the subject: “We’ve looked at it and we don’t see a problem. As a scientist, I look with a clear mind and a clear heart. I feel satisfied that enough work has been done to draw these conclusions.”
When you put sulphur into the air, it’s very harmful — to human health, wildlife, buildings. It forms acid rain. When you put it in the sea, sulphur becomes sulfate — the third-most-common salt in the sea
Paul Marsh, research director at Navig8 Group
Navig8’s executives admit they see a strong economic incentive in using scrubbers on their newbuildings, and they know sceptics will discount their views for that alone. There is even a perception by some in the market that the company has invested in scrubber sales, which it denies.
Alliance consensus
Navig8 belongs to an owner group called Clean Shipping Alliance 2020, whose members have chosen scrubbers and, according to spokesman Hamish Norton of Star Bulk Carriers, defend them as environmentally preferable in many cases to using low-sulphur fuel.
A vast majority of shipowners have not chosen scrubbers. Euronav chief executive Paddy Rodgers has been especially outspoken in labelling the technology reminiscent of Volkswagen’s “dieselgate” scandal.
So what of the view that scrubber users are simply taking pollutants from the air and dumping them in the sea?
“In simple terms, the last time I looked, the air is not the sea,” Marsh responds. “When you put sulphur into the air, it’s very harmful — to human health, wildlife, buildings. It forms acid rain. When you put it in the sea, sulphur becomes sulfate — the third-most-common salt in the sea. The amount is completely insignificant.”
Acid is a secondary concern, but according to Marsh, the amounts under IMO regulations are easily absorbed by a natural chemical mechanism of seawater.
On particulates, he claims that research shows they are well within the IMO’s guidelines.
Navig8 argues that strong statements on both sides have been made by people with no scientific background. “We just say, ‘go to the guy with the PhD’,” Brocklesby says.
