News 17 Feb, 2026 Soot Pollution from Inert Gas Systems and Open-Loop Scrubbers Anil Manipuzha Surveys Officer An Escalating Environmental, Regulatory, and Financial Risk The maritime industry is confronting an increasingly serious environmental challenge -soot pollution arising from inert gas (IG) systems and open-loop exhaust gas scrubber operations. What were once considered isolated or incidental events have now evolved into a systemic issue, exposing shipowners and operators worldwide to potential significant operational disruption, financial loss, and regulatory scrutiny. Download PDF An Escalating Environmental, Regulatory, and Financial Risk The maritime industry is confronting an increasingly serious environmental challenge - soot pollution arising from inert gas (IG) systems and open-loop exhaust gas scrubber operations. What were once considered isolated or incidental events have now evolved into a systemic issue, exposing shipowners and operators worldwide to potential significant operational disruption, financial loss, and regulatory scrutiny. To date, the Club has recorded over 60 documented incidents, although the true scale of the problem is believed to be substantially greater. These events are no longer regarded as minor environmental infractions. Instead, they frequently carry severe legal and financial consequences, including vessel detentions, delays, clean-up obligations, and substantial fines. As environmental enforcement intensifies across multiple jurisdictions, ship operators are facing heightened scrutiny and increasingly punitive responses from port and coastal State authorities. Escalating Enforcement and Penalties Growing environmental awareness has led many ports and coastal States to prohibit open-loop scrubber operations entirely. Elsewhere, inspections have become more intrusive and penalties more severe. Jurisdictions such as Turkey and the UAE are notable for their strict and highly visible enforcement approaches. Depending on the