Denmark Bans Scrubber Discharge From Ships To Protect Its Territorial Waters

Denmark is set to ban the discharge of scrubber water from ships in its territorial waters starting July 1, 2025. The new law, introduced in the Danish Parliament, aims to address marine pollution caused by harmful substances released during ship exhaust cleaning.

Scrubber water is a byproduct of “open scrubbers,” which use water to clean exhaust gasses before dumping them into the sea. This water contains heavy metals and tars like lead, cadmium, and anthracene, which may harm marine life and humans by gathering on the seafloor and entering the food chain.

The Danish government also plans to tighten regulations for “closed-loop scrubbers,” which store the used water for disposal at port facilities.

Ships will need to use low-sulfur fuel or manage scrubber waste more responsibly.

Environment Minister Magnus Heunicke discussed the risks of scrubber water, saying that it contributes to excessive amounts of toxic substances in the sea, affecting fish and eventually ending up on people’s plates.

Officials believe that the new law will reduce nickel pollution by 20% and anthracene by 7%.

The ban will be implemented up to 14 nautical miles off Denmark’s coast. While Denmark cannot enforce the law in international waters, the government is working for similar bans in the Baltic and North Seas through regional agreements and the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

Denmark joins countries like Belgium, Norway, and Germany, which have already imposed such restrictions. Denmark is taking another step to protect marine life and clean up the oceans.

Reference: Shipping Telegraph