Clean Arctic Alliance says IMO failed to ban scrubbers in the Arctic

The alliance has said that the IMO is “postponing” any decision on banning scrubber use in the Arctic region. 

PHOTO: View from the captain's bridge to the deck of a large crude oil tanker sailing among the ice. Getty Images

Clean Arctic Alliance, which comprises 23 non-profits, welcomed the IMO’s decision on two new ECAs in the Arctic region. However, it says that the IMO has postponed discussions for regulations on scrubber use in the region for 2025. This comes despite the scientific community worldwide pointing out that the Arctic is acidifying at a faster rate than the global ocean, the alliance argues. 

“The IMO’s lack of action on scrubbers is frustrating,” said the non-profit's advisor Eelco Leemans. Leemans also called for a total ban on the use of scrubbers in the Arctic.

IMO's ECA regulation states that ships sailing in ECAs must ensure that sulfur oxides (SOx) emitted due to fuel burnt during engine combustion are limited to 0.10%.

Ships passing through these ECAs usually burn marine fuels with a sulphur content of less than 0.10%, such as LSMGO or ULSFO, or use scrubber systems to scrub down the SOx in exhaust from burning HSFO.

The IMO adopted a draft resolution for two new Arctic ECAs last week during the Marine Environment Protection Committee’s 82nd session (MEPC 82) held last week. As per the draft resolution, the Norwegian Sea and the Canadian have been designated as the new ECAs. The two new ECAs will come into effect on 1 March 2027.

By Manjula Nair

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