Denmark Bans Scrubber Discharge From Ships To Protect Its Territorial Waters
15th November, 2024
Starting July 1, 2025, Denmark will ban the dumping of scrubber water from ships in its territorial waters. This new law, passed by the Danish Parliament, aims to reduce the pollution caused by harmful chemicals released during ship exhaust cleaning. The government hopes the move will protect the ocean, marine animals, and human health.
What is Scrubber Water?
Scrubber water comes from a system called “open scrubbers.” These scrubbers use seawater to clean harmful exhaust gasses from ship engines. After cleaning, the water is dumped back into the sea. Unfortunately, this water contains dangerous substances like heavy metals—such as lead and cadmium—and tars like anthracene. These pollutants can settle on the ocean floor, damage marine life, and even enter the food chain, posing risks to human health.
To tackle the problem, Denmark will also tighten rules for “closed-loop scrubbers.” These scrubbers store the dirty water in special tanks for proper disposal at port facilities, instead of releasing it into the ocean. This means ships will either need to use cleaner, low-sulfur fuels or find safer ways to manage scrubber waste.
Why Is the Ban Important?
Denmark’s Environment Minister, Magnus Heunicke, highlighted the dangers of scrubber water. He explained that it adds too many toxic chemicals to the sea. These toxins can harm fish, which may then end up on our dinner plates. By enforcing this ban, officials believe they can cut down harmful nickel pollution by 20% and anthracene levels by 7%.
The ban will cover waters up to 14 nautical miles from Denmark’s coast. Although Denmark cannot enforce this rule in international waters, the government is pushing for similar bans in the Baltic and North Seas. They are working with other countries and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to extend these protections.
Joining Other Countries in the Fight Against Pollution
Denmark is not the only country taking action against scrubber water. Other nations like Belgium, Norway, and Germany have already set similar bans in place. With this new law, Denmark is making another move to protect the seas, keep marine life safe, and ensure cleaner oceans for future generations.
