Mediterranean Sea Enters Sulphur Emission Control Zone

As of yesterday (May 1st), the Mediterranean Sea officially became designated as an Emission Control Area (ECA) for sulphur oxides (SOx), marking a major environmental milestone for the region.

Ships operating in the Mediterranean must now adhere to stricter pollution limits, requiring the use of fuel with a maximum sulphur content of 0.10% or the installation of approved exhaust gas cleaning systems, commonly known as scrubbers.

Unlike the ECAs already established in the North Sea and Baltic Sea, as well as the recently approved North Atlantic ECA, the Mediterranean’s new designation does not include nitrogen oxides (NOx) regulations.

Last month, during the Marine Environmental Protection Committee (MEPC) meeting at the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the global shipping community agreed to create the world’s largest ECA.

Set to take effect by 2027, the upcoming Northeast Atlantic ECA will stretch from Portugal to Greenland, connecting with the existing ECAs in the North Sea, Baltic Sea, and now the Mediterranean.

“Almost all European waters will be emission control areas soon. This harmonised regulation not only benefits people and nature but also facilitates a level playing field for the maritime industry in Europe,” said Sönke Diesener, a shipping expert at Naturschutzbund Deutschland, a German environmental NGO.