Rupert’s Port Wants To Ban Ocean-Polluting Scrubbers

Members of the public have 30 days to submit feedback.

Prince Rupert wants to ban Scrubbers.
Prince Rupert wants to ban Scrubbers. Source: Bluegreenjourney on Facebook.

The water around Prince Rupert might be getting a little bit cleaner. 

That’s because the Port Authority is proposing a ban on open-loop scrubbers, a technology used by cruise ships and other vessels that results in toxic wastewater harmful to shellfish, whales, and other species being dumped in the city’s harbour. 

What are Marine Scrubbers?
What are Marine Scrubbers? Source: Stand.earth on Facebook.

The news was contained in an update to the “Port Information Guide,” which now calls for the “Deletion of any reference to Open Loop EGCS (Scrubbers) being permitted within Prince Rupert Harbour.”

Members of the public now have until Feb 5th to submit feedback about the change.

It’s a crucial issue for Prince Rupert, because “scrubber washwater contributes to ocean acidification — a lesser-known climate risk that can cause shellfish to die off and harm the marine ecosystem — and exposes endangered species like southern resident killer whales to harmful heavy metals,” according to a report in Canada’s National Observer. 

Why are Scrubbers bad?
Why are Scrubbers bad? Source: Stand.earth on Facebook.

The proposed ban comes as Prince Rupert eyes a major expansion of its cruise ship industry.

In coming years the city could see “up to 250,000 passengers annually,” predicts Global Ports Holding, an international company that recently entered into an agreement with the Prince Rupert Port Authority.

Without controls on scrubber pollution, “the waters off of B.C. have become the cruise industry’s toilet bowl,” explained a scathing report last year from the organization Stand. earth. 

What can you do?
What can you do? Source: Stand.earth on Facebook.

The group’s Canada Shipping Campaigner Anna Barford applauded Prince Rupert’s proposed scrubber ban.

“The Port of Prince Rupert is joining in a chorus of local leaders by proposing a ban on acid dumping machines,” she said in a press release. “People are increasingly echoing their concerns about the impacts of shipping on coastal communities and the oceans.”

Scrubbers were initially supposed to be a green alternative.
Scrubbers were initially supposed to be a green alternative. Source: Stand.earth on Facebook.

“Now it is up to Transport Canada to follow California’s example and ban all scrubbers off of all coasts,” Barford added. “Instead of lining the pockets of cruise ship executives and depending on local leadership to do the heavy lifting.”

The Ports of Vancouver and Seattle have also committed to limiting scrubbers.

Written by The Skeena

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