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CHINA: BAN ON OPEN LOOP SCRUBBERS
Alistair Moir
Published: 18 January 2019
Recently information has been circulated stating a ban has been imposed by the Chinese authorities on the discharge of washing water generated by open-loop exhaust gas cleaning systems (scrubbers) in the port waters within the China river ECAs, coastal ECAs and Bohai-rim waters.
Our Chinese correspondent Huatai has been in contact with China MSA who confirms that Notice on Regulating the Supervision and Administration of Emission Control Area has been published by MSA on Dec 29th, 2018. As per Art.7 of this notice, discharge and treatment of water pollutants produced by exhaust gas cleaning system shall meet the requirements of relevant regulations.
However, it is forbidden to discharge washing water from open-loop exhaust gas cleaning devices in inland river Emission Control Area, ports water within coastal Emission Control Area and Bohai-rim sea area. The prohibition of open-loop exhaust gas cleaning systems in other coastal control areas will be promulgated and implemented in due time. It is forbidden to discharge the washing water residue from the exhaust gas cleaning devices into water or to incinerate it on board. The ship shall record the storage and treatment of the washing water residue from the exhaust gas cleaning systems truthfully.
Given above, members should be make proper arrangement to stop discharging washing water from open-loop exhaust gas cleaning systems before entering into the areas mentioned above. As regulations for emission control within Chinese waters currently can change swiftly, Members are instructed to liaise closely with their local agent in due time to obtain the latest update on local requirements in their Chinese port of call.
Further details are available in Huatai’s Circular published 15 January 2019.