Advocates for scrubbers are giving little credence to scientific claims that the equipment may harm ­marine life.

In recent weeks, TradeWinds has reported on several studies and reports expressing concerns about potential environmental damage. The latest was the European Commission’s call last week to urgently “harmonise” IMO guidelines over liquid discharges from the devices.

“The scientific evidence is being really ignored in a lot of the popular and even the industry debates,” Star Bulk Carriers president Hamish Norton said this week when asked about the EC report.