Danish Environment Minister Magnus Heunicke has submitted a bill that will ban the discharge of polluted water from open sewage treatment plants into Danish territorial waters. This measure, which will come into force on 1 July 2025 for most ships, aims to reduce emissions of heavy metals and tar compounds, such as lead and anthracene, which severely affect the marine ecosystem .
Danish law against contaminated water from sewage treatment plants
The use of open scrubbers has been a common solution in the shipping industry to clean sulfur from exhaust gases. However, the water used in this process, known as scrubber water, has contributed to the accumulation of toxic substances on the seabed and in food chains. Studies have shown that these pollutants affect marine life and could reach humans through the diet .
Under the law, ships will be required to use low-sulphur fuels or closed scrubbers that collect the waste for delivery to specialised port facilities. This effort is not limited to Danish waters; the Danish government is seeking similar regulation in the Baltic Sea and the North Sea , working in conjunction with the HELCOM and OSPAR conventions.
The project also highlights Denmark’s cooperation with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to promote stricter standards internationally. Meanwhile, neighbouring countries such as Belgium and Germany have implemented comparable measures, strengthening a global trend towards the protection of marine ecosystems .
These actions are expected to reduce nickel emissions by 20% and anthracene by 7% , underlining Denmark’s commitment to a healthier environment.
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Source: Danish Ministry of the Environment
Photo: Shutterstock
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