The Swedish government intends to introduce new regulations affecting the use of scrubbers.
In particular, the government proposes amendments to the Ship Pollution Measures Regulation and the Sulphur Regulation to implement this measure. The initial phase of the ban starts on July 1, 2025, targeting scrubbers used in the open position.
Following this, beginning January 1, 2029, the ban will expand to include all types of scrubbers, including those used in the closed position.
Reducing emissions into the air by moving pollution to the sea is not a sustainable solution. Therefore, a proposal is now being submitted to ban the scrubbers’ discharge into the water.
..Andreas Carlson, Infrastructure and Housing Minister, commented.
These changes are anticipated to take effect with the amendment of the Sulphur Regulation on July 1, 2025. The decision aims to reduce marine pollutant emissions, thereby enhancing water quality and protecting local biodiversity.
Scrubbers are ship-installed devices that reduce sulphur emissions from flue gases, releasing cleaner air. Open-loop scrubbers discharge the contaminated wash water into the sea, while closed-loop systems still produce hazardous drain water.
The use of scrubbers has risen due to stricter sulphur fuel regulations, decreasing air emissions but increasing water pollution. The EU lacks uniform laws against scrubber discharges, though many countries and ports have independently imposed bans in specific areas. Sweden has no national ban yet, but several Swedish ports have already prohibited scrubber water discharges.
With these regulations, Sweden is expected to set an example for other coastal nations to adopt stricter measures against marine pollution. Notably, the Danish government, in collaboration with several political parties, reached a new agreement to prohibit the discharge of scrubber water from ships within 22 km of the Danish coasts starting from July 1, 2025. This simultaneous regional initiative underscores a growing consensus among Scandinavian countries to prioritize marine environmental protection.
