IMO “likely” to establish work item on scrubber discharge: DNV GL

“We think the request to open the work item will be accepted at MEPC 74,” Nyhus said, adding that owing to the existing heavy workload scheduled for MEPC 74, work on the work item will be given to PPR 7.

Nyhus also noted that polarisation at the IMO level complicated predicting the likely outcome of discussions, but outlined three potential outcomes, along with their respective earliest entry into force dates.

One of the possible outcomes of the discussion is a reduction in the discharge rate, as well as potentially an expansion of the number of substances covered, as well as changes to the levels of the substances.

Such changes would be unlikely to be introduced before “late 2020”, Nyhus said, as the adjustments would require changes to existing guidelines.

A separate possibility is the creation of a framework for geographical restrictions. As such a measure would require a change to MARPOL, these changes would be unlikely to be introduced before 2022 or 2023 at the earliest.

Lastly, the possibility exists that no change may be agreed.

The EU submitted a proposal to the IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee in February calling for “evaluation and harmonization” of scrubber discharges worldwide, or the creation of a framework for the introduction of geographical bans.