Following a significant amount of incidents of soot pollution from inert gas (IG) systems and open-loop exhaust gas scrubbers, West P&I Club has presented preventive measures and best practices to assist operators in avoiding such instances.
According to West, over 60 incidents of soot pollution from inert gas (IG) systems and open-loop exhaust gas scrubbers have been formally documented by the Club, though the true scale is believed to be much greater. What were once isolated events have now become a systemic problem, posing significant operational disruptions, financial losses, and heightened regulatory scrutiny for shipowners and operators worldwide.
Preventive measures and best practices
As informed, most soot pollution incidents are entirely preventable through disciplined operations, effective training, and proactive maintenance.
Thus, shipowners and operators shall to adopt the following best practices:
- Strict adherence to manufacturer guidance
Follow manufacturer-recommended operating procedures and maintenance instructions for IG systems and scrubber systems without deviation.
- Comprehensive pre-operation inspections
Conduct thorough system checks before activation, ensuring all critical components and alarms are fully functional.
- Crew training and competency development
Ensure crew members are adequately trained in normal operation, fault recognition, troubleshooting, and emergency response.
- Adoption of cleaner technologies
Consider transitioning to hybrid or closed-loop scrubber systems, particularly when trading in regions with strict environmental controls.
- Robust record-keeping
Maintain detailed logs of system operation, maintenance activities, sensor readings, and visual observations to demonstrate compliance and support incident investigation.
- Enhanced preventive maintenance regimes
Implement maintenance programs that exceed minimum regulatory requirements, including scheduled inspections and timely replacement of critical components. A vessel-specific operational checklist is strongly recommended.
- Real-time monitoring and early detection
Utilize continuous monitoring systems to identify deviations in performance at an early stage, allowing corrective action before a discharge occurs.