Fujairah latest to ban open-loop scrubbers

The port of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates, a major bunkering hub, has banned the use of open-loop scrubbers, following a growing numbers of ports around the globe.

According to Reuters, Fujairah port’s harbour master sent a document to agents, bunkering companies and oil terminal users to announce the decision.

“Please be advised that Port of Fujairah has decided to ban the use of open-loop scrubbers in its waters. Ships will have to use compliant fuel once the IMO 2020 sulfur cap comes into force,” the harbour master said in the document.

In January, China banned open-loop scrubbers from its emission control areas, which covers most of the country’s coastline and similar regulations have been implemented in Singapore, Belgium, California, Massachusetts and along Germany’s Rhine river. It is expected that there will be a growing number of ports banning the technology this year before the new IMO sulphur cap becomes effective in January next year.