Scrubber
An exhaust gas cleaning system that removes sulphur oxides from a ship’s emissions, letting her burn cheaper high-sulphur fuel.
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- Regulation and Compliance
- Dictionary entry
- Scrubber
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How it works
A scrubber, or Exhaust Gas Cleaning System (EGCS), washes sulphur oxides out of a ship’s exhaust so the vessel can comply with the sulphur limit while still burning cheaper high-sulphur fuel oil. Open-loop systems discharge the wash water to sea; closed-loop and hybrid systems retain or treat it.
The investment case for a scrubber rests on the price spread between high- and low-sulphur fuel: a wide spread pays back the capital fast. Some ports and states restrict open-loop discharge, which has pushed newer installs toward hybrid designs.
Where it shows up on The Maritime
Also known as: scrubber, EGCS, exhaust gas cleaning system.
The short dictionary definition is at Dictionary entry: Scrubber. This page is the explainer.
Related terms
Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (VLSFO)
Marine fuel blended to the global sulphur cap: the compliant fuel for most waters since the IMO sulphur rules took effect.
Bunkers
The fuel a ship burns and, by extension, the act of taking on that fuel (bunkering). Usually the single largest voyage cost.
MARPOL
The IMO convention preventing pollution from ships: oil, chemicals, sewage, garbage and air emissions, across six annexes.
More regulation and compliance terms
A plain-English reference definition: our own explanation of a standard shipping concept, not a licensed source or legal advice. See the full glossary or the broader maritime dictionary.
Last reviewed: .