Figure 2. View of dry residues after being treated by the filter press.

Source: the authors.

Then, after first filtering, treated residual water is conducted to a second filter zone (filter 2)
and depending on the system and manufacturer, on this second filtering operation, it is used a
membrane filtration system where treated residual water is recirculated through the filter,
several times, if needed, in order to get a best filtering result. After this second treatment, treated
water is considered good enough in order to be discharged overboard, however water should be
analyzed through water parameters sensors, which main goal is to check the compliance of the
treated water parameters with the limits established by Resolution MEPC.259(68).
As we mentioned before, these parameters are pH, PAH, turbidity (heavy metals and ashes),
nitrates, additives and other substances used during the water cleaning process.
If system detects, during treated residual water analysis, that any of the above-mentioned
parameters are not in compliance with the limits established by Resolution, then system restarts
the water recirculation on the filtering zone or send the treated residual water again to the water
treatment unit, until desired parameters are achieved.
This is basically the operational mode of an open loop exhaust gas cleaning system.
Our investigation is intended to analyze which is the real effect, on short and long term, of
discharging these residual treated waters overboard, in Barcelona port waters. We are going to
carry out a sampling of these treated residual waters above-mentioned, over several ships which
are using the open loop scrubbers during their call in the port of Barcelona.
But the first thing we should do is to understand how Resolution MEPC.259(68) is regulating
certain water discharge parameters. In this way, we are going to analyze this section of the
above-mentioned resolution.
 3.3.1. WATER DISCHARGE REGULATION
All parameters related to the discharge of treated residual waters used on the exhaust gas
cleaning systems are regulated by Resolution MEPC.259(68). Specifically, this regulation
establishes on its section 10.1 and subsequent, the washwater discharge criteria.
It is essential to consider that an exhaust gas cleaning system with overboard discharge, should
be fitted with a washwater monitoring and recording equipment. This is because is necessary
to control in each moment, the washwater parameters which are intended to discharge
overboard and its compliance with the above-mentioned regulation. The values monitored
should include, as per Resolution, pH, PAH, turbidity, and temperature. These parameters
should be continuously monitored and recorded when a ship is discharging these waters into a
port, harbour or estuary as well as in other areas, where being necessary. Let is see how
ResolutionMEPC.259(68) is regulating these parameters.
3.3.1.1.pH DISCHARGE CRITERIA
Resolution MEPC.259(68) establishes that the washwater used during exhaust gas cleaning
process and intended to discharge overboard, after being treated in washwater treatment unit,
should comply with one of the following requirements which, as per the above-mentioned
Regulation, should be recorded in the Exhaust Gas Technical Manual for scheme A or for
scheme B, as applicable:
- The discharge waswater should have a pH of no less than 6.5 measured at the ship’s overboard
discharge, considering the next exception applied for ships which are under manoeuvring or in
transit. For the above-mentioned ships, is allowed a maximum difference between inlet and
outlet of 2 pH units, measured at the ship’s inlet and overboard discharge.
- The minimum value that the water discharge pH will achieve, at the overboard monitoring
position (outlet), is the value which not will be lower of pH 6.5 measured at 4 meters from the
overboard discharge point with the ship stationary, and this minimum pH value at the overboard
monitoring position, is to be recorded as the overboard pH discharge limit in the Exhaust Gas
Technical Manual for scheme A or for scheme B. This overboard discharge limit can be
determined, as per the above-mentioned Resolution, either by means of direct measurement, or
by calculation-based methodology, which can be based in computational fluids dynamics or in
an equally scientifically established empirical formulae. If option chosen is the calculation-
based methodology, this should be approved by Administration. Furthermore, and for both cases,
the determination of pH discharge limit should be in accordance with certain conditions,
established in Resolution MEPC.259(68) and recorded in the Exhaust Gas Technical Manual
for scheme A or for scheme B.
The above-mentioned values for pH and limits established by this Resolution are clear, but we
must consider them to the possible scenarios. What we are going to study and analyze the effect
of these discharges in a port such Barcelona, where the tide effect is practically non-existent
and where are several docks and port areas which are really closed to the water renewal. It is
possible to achieve a scenario where we could have in these docks, several ships operating
during their calls, using an open loop exhaust gas cleaning system and that means, discharging
the treated residual water to the port waters.
Every day, more and more ships are installing this modality of scrubber on-board. For instance,
we could find it in several passenger ships, car carriers, ferries, chemical tankers, etc. which are
calling to Barcelona every week. Although they are in full compliance with one of the
requirements established by the Resolution for pH limit values, we cannot forget that these
ships are discharging a more acidic water than they have taken it. For instance, we are going to
check the pH values for a certain time, of a ship, which was using an open loop exhaust gas
cleaning system.
This is an abstract from electronic monitoring and recording equipment for washwater
parameters. These washwater parameters has been analyzed as required per Resolution and
showed the following results for pH values:
Table 1. View of water pH values monitored at inlet and outlet water
points, by an exhaust gas cleaning system.

Inlet pH Outlet pH

8.11 5.88

8.11 5.86

8.12 5.84

8.32 5.88

8.32 3.68

Source: washwater report from an open-loop exhaust gas cleaning system.

The ship is in full compliance with Resolution because she is using a calculation-based
methodology, approved by Administration, and based in an equally scientifically established
empirical formulae. This is the case where, the minimum value that the water discharge pH will
achieve, at the overboard monitoring position (outlet), is the value which not will be lower of
pH 6.5 measured at 4 meters from the overboard discharge point with the ship stationary.
This minimum pH value at the overboard monitoring position, is recorded as the overboard pH
discharge limit in the ship’s Exhaust Gas Technical Manual for scheme B. For this ship, this
value is pH 2.3.
Taking into account all the above-mentioned, it seems to be very difficult that treated
wastewater, with pH 3-4 which is being discharged overboard, can achieve the minimum pH
6.5 desired, at a distance of 4 m from the overboard discharge point with the ship stationary.
Also, we should consider, the port of Barcelona features, its docks and types of ships berthed,
main currents and water renewals.
Furthermore, we should consider the rate of discharge of treated wastewater by an open loop
exhaust gas cleaning system. It depends on the ship, system, manufacturer but mainly, on the
main engine load. For instance, for the ship of reference, which is using, for the period analyzed,
an engine load between 54 % and 65 %, is discharging an average of treated wastewater of
358.761m3/h. Taking into account these value, we should consider as well, that the average time
 call, in the port of Barcelona, of this type of ship is about 12 hours. So, only this ship, during
this call, has been discharged, an average of 4305.132 m3 of treated wastewater from the open
loop exhaust gas cleaning system.
If we consider the volume of ships that currently are installing these kind of scrubbers on board,
which some of them, are calling to Barcelona port, in order to use this system during their calls,
the volume of treated wastewater from the exhaust gas cleaning processes, is going to be
increased exponentially.
This is one of the reasons because, we are carrying out this study. It is particularly important to
know how the treated wastewater discharges from the open-loop exhaust gas cleaning systems
installed on board the ships recalling in the port of Barcelona, can change the pH water of the
port. We are going to analyze the current system and its evolution through the time. Although,
we must consider several parameters and multiple variables in order to achieve a reliable result.
In case, we conclude that the treated wastewater discharged from these systems are going to
decrease the pH of Barcelona port water, we are going to extend our study to find a way for
minimizing this effect.
3.3.1.2.POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS (PAH)
The treated washwater PAH should be specified in the Exhaust Gas Technical Manual for
scheme A or for scheme B and should follow Resolution MEPC.259(68) requirements. These
requirements are:
- Maximum continuous PAH concentration in the washwater intended to be discharged should
not be greater than 50g/L of phenantrene equivalence (PAHphe) over the inlet treated
washwater PAH concentration. The washwater PAH concentration measurements should be
done downstream of the water treatment unit. In case of using any washwater dilution or
reactant, the measurement of PAH concentration should be upstream of this dilution/reactant.
- The above-mentioned PAH concentration limits is established for a treated washwater flow rate
of 45 t/MWh. As indicated in Resolution MEPC.259(68), the limits for all flow rates values
below 45 t/MWh should be adjusted upwards and vice-versa, according to the values
established in the above-mentioned Resolution.

3.3.1.3.TURBIDITY / SUSPENDED PARTICLE MATTER

The treated washwater turbidity should be measured in formazin nephlometric units (FNU) or
nephlometric turbidity units (NTU) or in any equivalent unit. Resolution MEPC.259(68)
establishes the turbidity limit of treated washwater should be not greater than 25 FNU/NTU.
Due to the lack of precision on the measuring when water turbidity is high and the small lapse
time between inlet and outlet water readings, the 25 FNU/NTU limit should be applied in a
period of 15 minutes and using the average of turbidity readings from the system, during this
period. Turbidity of this washwater should be measured downstream of the water treatment unit
but upstream of washwater dilution prior to discharge. We should take into account that, as per
Resolution, the above-mentioned turbidity limit, could be exceeded by 20% during a 15-minute
period for each 12 hours period.