NAPLES: The Grimaldi Group has discovered a solution to the growing problem of discharging microplastics into the ocean by installing patented technology to collect the particles from shipboard exhaust cleaning or ‘scrubber’ systems.

In January 2020 the International Maritime Organization (IMO) reduced the maximum allowable sulfur content in shipping fuel from 3.5 percent to 0.5 percent except for ships that use scrubbers.

Open-loop systems, such as operated by Grimaldi, suck in large quantities of seawater, spray it into a ship’s exhaust and then discharge it back overboard.

Now, before returning the contaminated water to the ocean, Grimaldi’s new process filters it to capture microplastics.

“The idea for this innovative technology originated from recognising that open-loop exhaust gas cleaning systems can draw seawater for exhaust scrubbing and simultaneously collect microplastic present in the oceans as part of their normal operation,” commented Grimaldi Group managing director Emanuele Grimaldi.

The shipping line has completed a pilot test of the system between Civitavecchia and Barcelona - collecting 64,680 plastic particles during a one-way sailing.

Based on the idea of turning its ships into ocean "vacuum cleaners” by collecting and removing contaminates during normal operations, Grimaldi has now granted Wärtsilä non-exclusive rights to market the new filter and will donate the licensing fee to charity.

“Microplastics are a pressing environmental challenge and we’re proud to work together with Grimaldi to tackle cleaning up the oceans,” commented Wärtsilä Marine Systems president Tamara de Gruyter. “Even more importantly, the ability to capture microplastics shows how scrubbers are a platform for solving a wide range of sustainability challenges – and now even ones that are beyond the stack."