Starting 1 May 2025, the Mediterranean Sea will officially be designated as an Emission Control Area (ECA) for sulphur oxides (SOx) under MARPOL Annex VI Regulation 14. This landmark development marks a significant step toward reducing air pollution in one of the world's most heavily trafficked maritime regions.

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What This Means for Maritime Operations

Once the regulation takes effect, vessels operating in the Mediterranean Sea must comply with stringent sulphur limits. Specifically:

The sulphur content of fuel used on board must not exceed 0.10%.

Alternatively, vessels may use an exhaust gas cleaning system (EGCS) to achieve an equivalent SOx emission level.

This aligns the Mediterranean with existing SOx ECAs, including:

• The Baltic Sea

• The North Sea

• The North American ECA

• The United States Caribbean Sea ECA

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Benefits of the Mediterranean SOx ECA

The introduction of the SOx ECA is expected to significantly reduce ambient air pollution levels across the Mediterranean region. Key benefits include:

Improved Human Health: Lower SOx emissions contribute to cleaner air, reducing respiratory and cardiovascular health risks for coastal populations.

Environmental Protection: Decreased sulphur emissions will help mitigate acid rain, benefiting marine ecosystems and coastal vegetation.

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Future Prospects for SOx ECAs

As the global shipping industry continues to prioritize environmental sustainability, additional SOx ECAs may be established in the future. A potential candidate is the North-East Atlantic Ocean, which could link the Baltic Sea and North Sea ECAs with the new Mediterranean ECA, creating a unified zone of stringent sulphur emission controls.

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Prepare for Compliance

Shipowners and operators are encouraged to:

Review fuel procurement strategies to ensure availability of compliant fuels.

Consider investments in EGCS technology where applicable.

Stay informed about evolving regulations and potential new ECA designations.

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For more information on how these changes impact your operations, please kindly contact us today. Together, let’s navigate toward a cleaner and more sustainable future for maritime shipping.

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