One year after International Maritime Organization (IMO) 2025, the shipping industry has moved beyond the question of compliance. What once seemed like a technical shift has quickly become a long-term operational challenge. Uncertainty, cost pressure, and faster regulation mark it.
The first lesson is clear: there is no stable state.
Many shipowners first chose open-loop scrubbers, also called Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems. They saw them as a practical and cost-effective solution. But tightening restrictions on washwater discharge, especially within 12 nautical miles, have forced operators to rethink their strategy. Systems designed for simplicity are now operating under constraints, increasing both OPEX (operational expenditure) and complexity.
At the same time, regulation is not slowing down. New Emission Control Areas (ECAs), where stricter emissions limits apply, are expected between 2027 and 2028. Discharge bans are also extending beyond the Baltic Sea into regions such as the Mediterranean.
In this context, compliance is no longer a one-time decision. It has become a moving target.
Operational realities have also added pressure. Managing different fuel types, from Very Low Sulfur Fuel Oil to Marine Gas Oil, is still a challenge. Geopolitical tensions also make compliant fuel costs more volatile.
For many operators, fuel is now one of the biggest and least predictable costs. This is especially true compared to traditional Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO).
This is where the gap between theory and reality becomes evident. Installing compliant equipment is straightforward. Operating it efficiently over time is not.
The industry is now entering a new phase, one where flexibility matters more than initial investment.
Shipowners no longer ask, “How do we comply today?”
Instead, they ask, “How do we stay compliant tomorrow and keep profits strong?”
In this evolving landscape, solutions that decouple compliance from fuel dependency are gaining ground. Dry scrubber technologies, such as SOLVAir® sodium bicarbonate injection systems, offer shipowners a different path, combining regulatory compliance with operational simplicity and fuel flexibility.
From Compliance to Performance: Proof in Operation
The shift is not theoretical. This is already happening on the water.
Case Study : Bontrup
Bontrup's Yeoman Bridge chose SOLVAir® dry scrubber technology to reduce reliance on fuel switching when operating across ECAs.
After implementation in 2025, the operator achieved:
- 2 M€ saved in fuel oil
- 100% VLSF operation (no need to switch fuel)
- Smooth maintenance of the engine
- Ability to operate with HFO if economically advantageous
The result was not only compliance, but operational resilience, allowing the vessel to adapt to changing regulations and fuel economics without disruption.
A New Definition of Compliance
After one year, IMO 2025 has not just changed the rules. It has changed the expectations.
Compliance is no longer about meeting a threshold at a given point in time. Maintaining performance across changing geographies, evolving regulations, and volatile market conditions.
In that reality, the most valuable systems are not those that meet today’s needs. They handle tomorrow’s too. Because in a system that keeps moving, the true advantage lies in staying ahead of it.
Ready to move beyond compliance?
Talk to our SOLVAir® marine experts to discover how dry scrubber technology can help you reduce costs, increase operational flexibility, and stay ahead of evolving emissions regulations.