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Strong economic incentives of ship scrubbers promoting pollution

Author

Listed:
  • Anna Lunde Hermansson

    (Department of Mechanics and Maritime Sciences)

  • Ida-Maja Hassellöv

    (Department of Mechanics and Maritime Sciences)

  • Tiia Grönholm

    (Finnish Meteorological Institute)

  • Jukka-Pekka Jalkanen

    (Finnish Meteorological Institute)

  • Erik Fridell

    (Department of Mechanics and Maritime Sciences
    IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute)

  • Rasmus Parsmo

    (Department of Mechanics and Maritime Sciences
    IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute)

  • Jesper Hassellöv

    (Department of Mechanics and Maritime Sciences)

  • Erik Ytreberg

    (Department of Mechanics and Maritime Sciences)

Abstract

In response to stricter regulations on ship air emissions, many shipowners have installed exhaust gas cleaning systems, known as scrubbers, allowing for use of cheap residual heavy fuel oil. Scrubbers produce large volumes of acidic and polluted water that is discharged to the sea. Due to environmental concerns, the use of scrubbers is being discussed within the International Maritime Organization. Real-world simulations of global scrubber-vessel activity, applying actual fuel costs and expenses related to scrubber operations, show that 51% of the global scrubber-fitted fleet reached economic break even by the end of 2022, with a surplus of €4.7 billion in 2019 euros. Within five years after installation, more than 95% of the ships with the most common scrubber systems reach break even. However, the marine ecotoxicity damage cost, from scrubber water discharge in the Baltic Sea Area 2014–2022, amounts to >€680 million in 2019 euros, showing that private economic interests come at the expense of marine environmental damage.

Suggested Citation

  • Anna Lunde Hermansson & Ida-Maja Hassellöv & Tiia Grönholm & Jukka-Pekka Jalkanen & Erik Fridell & Rasmus Parsmo & Jesper Hassellöv & Erik Ytreberg, 2024. "Strong economic incentives of ship scrubbers promoting pollution," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 7(6), pages 812-822, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natsus:v:7:y:2024:i:6:d:10.1038_s41893-024-01347-1
    DOI: 10.1038/s41893-024-01347-1
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Thalis P.V. Zis & Kevin Cullinane & Stefano Ricci, 2022. "Economic and environmental impacts of scrubbers investments in shipping: a multi-sectoral analysis," Maritime Policy & Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 49(8), pages 1097-1115, November.
    2. Mikhail Sofiev & James J. Winebrake & Lasse Johansson & Edward W. Carr & Marje Prank & Joana Soares & Julius Vira & Rostislav Kouznetsov & Jukka-Pekka Jalkanen & James J. Corbett, 2018. "Cleaner fuels for ships provide public health benefits with climate tradeoffs," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-12, December.
    3. Lindstad, Elizabeth & Rehn, Carl Fredrik & Eskeland, Gunnar S., 2017. "Sulphur Abatement Globally in Maritime Shipping," Discussion Papers 2017/8, Norwegian School of Economics, Department of Business and Management Science.
    4. Gu, Yewen & Wallace, Stein W., 2017. "Scrubber: a potentially overestimated compliance method for the Emission Control Areas - The importance of involving a ship's sailing pattern in the evaluation," Discussion Papers 2017/13, Norwegian School of Economics, Department of Business and Management Science.
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