Scrubbers get support in California

Industry has come out in support of emissions scrubbing technology in California, an industry poll has revealed. By a narrow margin, 55% of respondents to the poll on sustainableshipping.com said that “it would be more cost-effective if scrubbers could be used”. Under regulations from the California Air Resources Board (ARB), planned to enter into force in July 2009, all ships visiting local ports will be required to switch to distillate fuel in their main and auxiliary engines. The regulations do not allow alternative means of compliance, such as scrubbers or other abatement technology.

ARB decided to make the new rules ‘in-use requirements’ following a legal battle over its authority to impose such rules in California. The poll on sustainableshipping.com asked if there would be “problems complying with” the new regulations because scrubbers are not allowed. Despite majority support for scrubbers, 45% of respondents said that fuel switching would not be a problem.