Effective from 1 May, the Mediterranean Sea has been officially designated as an Emission Control Area (ECA) for sulphur oxides (SOx) under MARPOL Annex VI Regulation 14, as adopted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
This development mandates that vessels operating in the Mediterranean Sea use fuel with a sulphur content not exceeding 0.10%. This regulation aims to reduce air pollution levels in the Mediterranean region and its coastal states, offering benefits to both human health and the environment.
With this designation, the Mediterranean Sea becomes the fifth area worldwide to be recognized as an Emission Control Area for Sulphur Oxides, joining the following globally acknowledged ECAs:
- North American Sea
- US Caribbean Sea
- North Sea
- Baltic Sea
