Analysis of Discharge Water from Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems

Two main regulatory frameworks, at international and national levels, are driving the requirements for shipowners to carry out tests of discharge water from exhaust gas cleaning systems (EGCS, a.k.a. scrubbers). The current regulatory framework and upcoming changes are described in this white paper. As the flag requirements for scrubber testing have been applied following the International Maritime Organization (IMO) 2015 Guidelines, an unintended consequence is that the global implementation has become very challenging for both shipowners and scrubber manufacturers. The difficulties and potential solutions are discussed.