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Hamburg Port: Record fine for tanker violating open-loop scrubber ban



Authorities in Germany have imposed a
record fine to a Marshall Islands-flagged tanker for breaching an open-loop
scrubber ban in the Port of Hamburg.

On November 18, 2019, local water
police conducted a routine check of an unnamed vessel and determined
environmental breaches.


As a result, the ship has received a
fine of EUR 50,000 (about USD 55,400) by the Department of Environment and
Energy.

As informed, officers found that the
vessel was equipped with an open-loop scrubber. Such systems use sea water as
the process fluid and discharge the treated water overboard.

Under the relevant CDNI convention,
the discharge of wash water from a scrubber into the river Elbe and in the Port
of Hamburg is strictly prohibited. 

Ships equipped with open-loop scrubbers are
required to timely switch to low sulphur fuel oil. 

It is only possible to
dispose of closed-loop wash water and solid scrubber waste for a fee at the
port reception facilities in Hamburg.

Despite this prohibition, the ship
already discharged 2,300 tons in the port water at the time of the inspection.

A 43-year-old Philippine Chief
Officer is held responsible for the incident.
World Maritime News

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