Web Alert: Prohibition of open-loop scrubber wash-water discharge in port of Singapore

During the Singapore Registry of Ships (SRS) Forum on 30 November 2018, Singapore's Maritime Port Authority (MPA) has announced that in order to protect the marine environment and ensure that the port waters are clean, the discharge of wash water from open-loop exhaust gas scrubbers in the port of Singapore will be prohibited.

The requirement takes immediate effect, however, IMO’s Global Sulphur cap will come into force from 1 January 2020, so ships can continue to use fuel (with sulphur content not exceeding 3.5%) without using scrubbers until 2020.

After 1 January 2020, ships fitted with open-loop scrubbers calling at Singapore will be required to use compliant fuel, and ships fitted with hybrid scrubbers will be required to switch to closed-loop mode of operation while calling at the port of Singapore.

Members with ships fitted with scrubbers are recommended to take note of this requirement. For ships with hybrid scrubbers, it is recommended to carry out the switch to either closed-loop mode or to compliant fuel well in advance of the ship’s arrival at the port waters, so that any operational issues can be identified and dealt with before the ship starts manoeuvring in heavy traffic.

The club will update the members once the MPA circular is issued on this requirement. In the meantime, members are recommended to refer to the links on the right for further information. 

Categories: Alternative Fuels, Pollution