Hudson Shipping Lines (HSL) does not want anything to do with exhaust gas scrubbers when IMO 2020 comes into effect next year.

The privately held ship operator says it will not employ scrubber-fitted ships to meet the pending IMO standard capping ship exhaust's sulphur content at 0.5% come 1 January 2020.

“We have thoroughly investigated the use and operation of exhaust gas scrubbers and have found that they simply transfer the pollution produced by vessels from the air to the ocean,” chief executive Avi Eilon said in a statement.