IMO Reaches Atlantic Emissions Agreement, But Delays Scrubber Ban Amidst Industry Pushback

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has reached a landmark agreement to implement targeted emission reduction measures for vessels operating in the North and South Atlantic, marking a significant expansion of regional environmental controls. However, the decision to postpone a controversial ban on exhaust gas cleaning systems, known as scrubbers, has sparked criticism from environmental organizations and highlighted ongoing tensions between regulatory ambition and industry pragmatism.

During its latest session at the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 84), the IMO adopted a resolution establishing stricter sulfur oxide (SOx) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) control areas across the Atlantic shipping corridor. These measures include the designation of new Emission Control Areas (ECAs) stretching from the Gulf of Guinea to the Bay of Biscay and encompassing parts of the Caribbean Sea and South American coasts. The resolution is expected to reduce particulate matter emissions by an estimated 30% over the next five years.

The move is seen as part of the broader implementation of the IMO’s 2023 Revised GHG Strategy, which aims to reach net-zero emissions from international shipping around 2050. The Atlantic, long considered a high-traffic but loosely regulated zone compared to the Baltic and North Sea ECAs, will now fall under a stricter compliance regime—requiring either low-sulfur fuel oil (0.1% m/m) or alternative technologies to meet emission thresholds.

While the emissions agreement received broad support from member states, a proposed global ban on open-loop scrubbers was deferred following intense lobbying from several flag states and shipping industry stakeholders. These scrubbers, which discharge washwater used to remove sulfur from engine exhaust directly into the sea, have been under scrutiny for their environmental impact—particularly in sensitive marine ecosystems.

Countries including Germany, Canada, and Chile supported an outright ban, citing marine pollution risks and long-term ecological damage. However, opposition from Panama, Greece, and several Asian flags led the IMO to table the motion for further scientific review and cost-impact analysis.

Environmental NGOs, including the Clean Shipping Coalition and Transport & Environment, have condemned the delay, accusing the IMO of bending to commercial interests and undermining its own climate credibility. “This is a missed opportunity to eliminate a known source of marine pollution,” said Maria Andersen, a policy director at Transport & Environment. “Scrubbers are a loophole that let ships continue burning dirty fuel under the guise of compliance.”

For shipowners and operators, the delay offers temporary relief. Many shipping companies—especially those with recent scrubber retrofits—warned that an immediate ban would have stranded billions in investments and caused compliance chaos, particularly for vessels operating on long-haul transatlantic routes.

“We support decarbonization, but regulatory clarity and transition time are essential,” said a spokesperson for a leading Greek tanker operator. “A sudden ban on scrubbers would have introduced technical and economic instability across the fleet.”

Shipping finance institutions also weighed in, emphasizing the need for harmonized timelines to avoid devaluation of scrubber-equipped assets, especially those under long-term charters.

The IMO has commissioned a new impact assessment report on scrubber technologies, due in late 2025, which will include water toxicity studies, lifecycle cost analyses, and alternative emissions abatement technologies such as biofuels and carbon capture systems.

Meanwhile, Atlantic regional port authorities are expected to implement enhanced surveillance and fuel sampling protocols by mid-2026, ensuring early enforcement of the new ECA boundaries. Flag states will also be required to submit emission compliance data to the IMO’s GISIS database, reinforcing the shift toward a data-driven compliance model.

While the agreement on Atlantic ECAs is a concrete step in global emission reduction efforts, the delay on scrubber policy underscores the IMO's complex role as both a regulator and an enabler of commercial continuity. With decarbonization deadlines looming, the shipping industry now finds itself navigating not just the oceans—but the murky waters of compromise and reform.