Action Date: 1 May 2025
The Mediterranean Sea officially became an Emission Control Area (Med SOx ECA) under MARPOL Annex VI on 1 May 2025. The sulphur content in fuel oil for ships operating in the area is now limited to 0.1%, significantly reducing air pollution and delivering major benefits to both human health and the marine environment.
Ships operating within the Med SOx ECA must now use fuel oil with a maximum sulphur content of 0.10% m/m, compared to the global limit of 0.50% m/m. This regulatory measure aims to significantly reduce air pollution and improve public health and environmental quality in the region.
The reduction in SOx emissions from shipping provides numerous health and environmental advantages:
- Human Health: Lower emissions reduce the incidence of lung cancer, cardiovascular diseases, strokes, and childhood asthma.
- Environment: Reductions in acid deposition help protect crops, forests, and aquatic ecosystems.
- Safety: Improved air quality enhances visibility at sea, decreasing the risk of maritime accidents.
Global ECA Framework
The Med SOx ECA is the fifth area designated under MARPOL Annex VI. Other established ECAs include:
- Baltic Sea Area
- North Sea Area
- North American ECA (coastal waters of the U.S. and Canada)
- U.S. Caribbean Sea ECA (Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands)
In 2024, two additional ECAs were designated:
- Canadian Arctic
- Norwegian Sea
In April 2025, the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 83) approved a proposal to designate the North-East Atlantic as a future ECA.
On 1 January 2020, MARPOL Annex VI introduced a new global limit of 0.50% sulphur content in marine fuel oil, down from 3.50%. This change resulted in an estimated 70% reduction in total sulphur oxide emissions from shipping.
For more information, refer to the IMO guidelines under MARPOL Annex VI.