Emission control area

'''Emission control areas''' ('''ECAs'''), or '''sulfur emission control areas''' ('''SECAs'''), are sea areas in which stricter controls were established to minimize airborne emissions from ships as defined by Annex VI<ref name="IMO_new_rules" /> of the 1997 MARPOL Protocol.

The emissions specifically include SOx, NOx, ODSs and VOCs<ref name="IMO_GHG">{{citation|url=http://www.imo.org/OurWork/Environment/PollutionPrevention/AirPollution/Pages/Default.aspx|publisher=International Maritime Organization (IMO)|title=Air Pollution and Greenhouse Gas Emissions|year=2014a|accessdate=4 May 2014}}</ref> and the regulations came into effect in May 2005.<ref name="IMO_pollution">{{citation|url=http://www.imo.org/blast/mainframe.asp?topic_id=233|publisher=International Maritime Organization (IMO)|title=Prevention of Air Pollution from Ships|year=2008|accessdate=4 May 2014|archive-date=29 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140529160021/http://www.imo.org/blast/mainframe.asp?topic_id=233|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="IMO" /> Annex VI contains provisions for two sets of emission and fuel quality requirements regarding SOx and PM, or NOx, a global requirement and more stringent controls in special emission control areas (ECA).<ref name="diesel_net" /> The regulations stems from concerns about "local and global air pollution and environmental problems" in regard to the shipping industry's contribution. In January 2020, a revised more stringent Annex VI was enforced in the emission control areas with significantly lowered emission limits.<ref name="IMO_GHG" />

As of 2011 there were four existing ECAs: the Baltic Sea, the North Sea,<ref name="IMO">{{citation|url=http://www.imo.org/OurWork/Environment/PollutionPrevention/AirPollution/Pages/Sulphur-oxides-%28SOx%29-%E2%80%93-Regulation-14.aspx|publisher=International Maritime Organization|title=Sulphur Oxides|year=2014|accessdate=4 May 2014|url-status=dead|archiveurl=http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20141223211746/http://www.imo.org/OurWork/Environment/PollutionPrevention/AirPollution/Pages/Sulphur-oxides-%28SOx%29-%e2%80%93-Regulation-14.aspx|archivedate=23 December 2014}}</ref> the North American ECA, including most of US<ref name="MarineLink">{{citation|url=http://www.marinelink.com/news/regulations-california346396.aspx |title=California SECA Regulations Upheld by Supreme Court|date= 20 July 2012|accessdate=4 May 2014|publisher=Marine Link}}</ref> and Canadian coast<ref name="diesel_net">{{citation|url=http://www.dieselnet.com/standards/inter/imo.php|title=Emission StandardsInternational: IMO Marine Engine Regulations: Background|date=September 2011|accessdate=4 May 2014|publisher=Diesel Net}}</ref> and the US Caribbean ECA.<ref name="diesel_net" /> Also other areas may be added via protocol defined in Annex VI. ECAs with nitrogen oxides thresholds are denoted as '''nitrogen oxide emission control areas''' ('''NECAs''').

{| class="wikitable" |+ Sulfur limits for fuel in ECAs<ref name="IMO_11">{{citation|url=http://www.imo.org/OurWork/Environment/PollutionPrevention/AirPollution/Pages/Sulphur-oxides-%28SOx%29-%E2%80%93-Regulation-14.aspx|publisher=International Maritime Organization (IMO)|title=Sulphur oxides (SOx) – Regulation 14|url-status=dead|archiveurl=http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20141223211746/http://www.imo.org/OurWork/Environment/PollutionPrevention/AirPollution/Pages/Sulphur-oxides-%28SOx%29-%e2%80%93-Regulation-14.aspx|archivedate=2014-12-23}}</ref> | before 1 July 2010 || 1.50% {{Abbr|m/m|mass by mass}} |- | 1 July 2010 – 1 January 2015 || 1.00% m/m |- | after 1 January 2015 || 0.10% m/m |}

{| class="wikitable" |+ Sulfur limits for fuel in other sea areas | before 1 January 2012 || 4.50% m/m |- | 1 January 2012 – 1 January 2020 || 3.50% m/m |- | after 1 January 2020 || 0.50% m/m |}

==Context== In 1972 with the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, widespread concerns about air pollution led to international cooperation. Air pollution from "noxious gases from ships' exhausts" was already being discussed internationally. On 2 November 1973 the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships was adopted and later modified by the 1978 Protocol (MARPOL 73/78). MARPOL is short for Marine Pollution. In 1979, the Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution, the "first international legally binding instrument to deal with problems of air pollution" was signed.<ref name="IMO_pollution" /> In 1997 the regulations regarding air pollution from ships as described in Annex VI of the MARPOL Convention were adopted. These "regulations set limits on sulfur oxide (SOx) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from ship exhausts and prohibit deliberate emissions of ozone-depleting substances."<ref name="IMO_new_rules">{{citation|url=http://www.imo.org/blast/mainframe.asp?topic_id=1018&doc_id=4884|publisher=International Maritime Organization|title=New rules to reduce emissions from ships enter into force|series=Briefing 23|date=18 May 2005|accessdate=4 May 2014|archive-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924042507/http://www.imo.org/blast/mainframe.asp?topic_id=1018&doc_id=4884|url-status=dead}}</ref> The current convention is a combination of 1973 Convention and the 1978 Protocol. It entered into force on 2 October 1983. According to the IMO, a United Nations agency responsible for the "safety and security of shipping and the prevention of marine pollution by ships", as of May 2013, 152 states, representing 99.2 per cent of the world's shipping tonnage, are parties to the convention.<ref name="IMO_status">{{citation|url=http://www.imo.org/About/Conventions/StatusOfConventions/Documents/status-x.xls|publisher=International Maritime Organization|title=Status of Convention|year=2013|accessdate=4 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140506233733/http://www.imo.org/About/Conventions/StatusOfConventions/Documents/status-x.xls|archive-date=6 May 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== SECAs or ECAs == As of 2011 existing ECAs include the Baltic Sea (SOx, adopted 1997; enforced 2005) and the North Sea (SOx, 2005/2006 adopted July 2005; enforced 2006),<ref name="IMO" /> the North American ECA, including most of US<ref name="MarineLink" /> and Canadian coast (NOx & SOx, 2010/2012)<ref name="diesel_net" /> and the US Caribbean ECA, including Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands (NOx & SOx, 2011/2014).<ref name="diesel_net" /><ref name="IMO_Special_Areas">{{citation|url=http://www.imo.org/OurWork/Environment/PollutionPrevention/SpecialAreasUnderMARPOL/Pages/Default.aspx|publisher=International Maritime Organization|title=Special Areas under MARPOL|year=2014b|accessdate=4 May 2014|url-status=dead|archiveurl=http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20140501034934/http://www.imo.org/OurWork/Environment/PollutionPrevention/SpecialAreasUnderMARPOL/Pages/Default.aspx|archivedate=1 May 2014}}</ref>

The Protocol of 1997 (MARPOL Annex VI ) included the new Annex VI of MARPOL 73/78, which went in effect on 19 May 2005.

== SOx emissions control == The purpose of the protocol was to reduce and to control the emissions coming from the marine vessels’ exhausts that pollute the environment. MARPOL convinced IMO to control the average worldwide sulfur content fuels. As of 1 January 2020 the Annex states that a global cap is 0.5% m/m on the sulfur content in fuel. However, MARPOL insist on it being 0.1% m/m in some regions classified as "SOx emission control areas" (SECAs).<ref name="imo">{{Cite web |title=Air pollution |url=https://www.imo.org/en/OurWork/Environment/Pages/Sulphur-oxides-(SOx)-%E2%80%93-Regulation-14.aspx |access-date=20 March 2022 |website=www.imo.org}}</ref>

On the other hand, MARPOL came up with a way to avoid using an exhaust gas cleaning systems or anything else that would limit SOx emissions. In fact, the exhaust gas cleaning systems must be approved by the State Administration before put into use. The regulations on the exhaust gas cleaning systems are to set by IMO.<ref name="imo" />

The monitoring of sulfur content of residual fuel supplied for use on board ships is being performed by IMO since 1999. The IMO monitors it by the bunker reports around the world. According to The Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) the worldwide average sulfur content in fuel oils for 2004 was 2.67 %m/m.<ref name="imo" />

thumb|Ship Maneuvering out of Port S.Louis du Rhone, near Marseilles.

== Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) emissions – Regulation 13 == === Engines === NOx control requirements apply worldwide to any installed marine diesel engine over 130 kW of output power other than the engines used solely for emergency purposes not in respect of the marine vessel's tonnage where the engine is installed. However, there are different levels of regulations that are based on the ship's date of construction and were the only require the regulation are met whilst in the area leading to cleaning systems that can be deactivated and engines that switch over to back to older fuel types.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cummins IMO Tier III Solution |url=https://www.cummins.com/engines/marine/technology/imo-tier-iii-emissions |access-date=2025-01-11 |website=Cummins Inc. |language=en}}</ref> The levels if control are broken down into Tiers.

==== Tier I ==== Applies to the ships built after 1 January 2000. It states that for engines below 130 rpm must have the total weighted cycle emission limit (g/kWh) of 17, engines that are between 130 and 1999 rpm must have no more than 12.1 (g/kWh), engines above 2000 rpm must have the limit of 9.8 (g/kWh).

==== Tier II ==== Requirements: 14.4 (g/kWh) for engines less than 130 rpm, 9.7 (g/kWh) for engines 130 – 1999 rpm, and for engines over 2000 rpm 7.7 (g/kWh) is the limit. Tier II limits apply to the ships constructed after 1 January 2011.

==== Tier III ==== ''IMO Tier III'' is a control that only applies in specific areas where the NOx emission are more seriously controlled (NECAs) and apply to the ships constructed after 1 January 2016. For engines under 130 rpm the limit is 3.4 (g/Kwh), engines between 130 and 1999 rpm the limit us 2.4 (g/kWh), engines above 2000 rpm must have the total weighted cycle emission limit of 2.0 (g/kWh).<ref name="imo2" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/marpol-annex-vi-and-act-prevent-pollution-ships-apps|title=MARPOL Annex VI|last=EPA, OECA, OAP, ITD|first=US|website=United States Environmental Protection Agency|language=en|access-date=2017-04-08}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) – Regulation 13 |url=https://www.imo.org/en/OurWork/Environment/Pages/Nitrogen-oxides-(NOx)-%E2%80%93-Regulation-13.aspx |access-date=2025-01-11 |website=www.imo.org}}</ref>

=== Incineration === Annex VI prohibits burning certain products aboard the ship. Those products include: contaminated packaging materials and polychlorinated biphenyls, garbage, as defined by Annex V, containing more than traces of heavy metals, refined petroleum products containing halogen compounds, sewage sludge, and sludge oil.

=== Greenhouse gas policy === The Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) has strongly encouraged members to use the scheme to report the greenhouse gas emissions. Those gases include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride. The purpose of making the guidelines on CO<sub>2</sub> emissions is to develop a system that would be used by ships during a trial period.<ref name="imo2">{{Cite web|url=http://www.imo.org/en/OurWork/environment/pollutionprevention/airpollution/pages/nitrogen-oxides-(nox)-%E2%80%93-regulation-13.aspx|title=Nitrogen oxides (NOx) – Regulation 13|website=www.imo.org|language=en-GB|access-date=2017-04-08|archive-date=17 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181217110635/http://www.imo.org/en/OurWork/environment/pollutionprevention/airpollution/pages/nitrogen-oxides-(nox)-%E2%80%93-regulation-13.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Regulations of 2013 == In 2013 new regulations described in a chapter added to the MARPOL Annex VI came into effect in order to improve "energy efficiency of international shipping". The regulations apply to all marine vessels 400 gross tonnage or above. MARPOL requires the ship industry to use the EEDI mechanism that would ensure that all the required energy-efficiency levels are met. Also, all the ships are required to have a Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP) on board, therefore, the seafarers always have a plan to refer to in order to maintain energy-efficiency levels required by the area the ship is at or sailing to at all times.{{citation needed|date=April 2022}}

As for the additions to the Annex VI, there were corrections towards emissions, sewage, and garbage. Prior to the regulations adjusted in 2013 the sulfur emission control areas included: the Baltic Sea, the North Sea and the North American Area (coastal areas of the United States and Canada). However, the updated in 2013 version of Annex VI included the United States Caribbean Sea (specifically areas around Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands) to the list.{{citation needed|date=April 2022}}

As for the other regulations updates, there is possibility of establishing "special areas" where sewage discharge laws would be outstandingly stricter than in other areas, as well as, the few minor additions to the garbage disposal laws.<ref name="imo2" />

== Areas == thumb|Map of the emission control areas

* Baltic Sea – since 1 August 2006<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Regulations & Guidelines |url=https://www.egcsa.com/regulatory/ |access-date=2026-02-09 |website=EGCSA.com |language=en-GB}}</ref> * North Sea – since 11 August 2007<ref name=":0" /> * North America – since August 2012; extends {{Convert|200|nmi}} off the Atlantic, Gulf and Pacific coasts of Canada and the United States, including Hawaii<ref name=":0" /> * Caribbean Sea – since January 2014; extends {{Convert|20 to 40|nmi}} off the coasts of U.S.-controlled territories, including Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 July 2011 |title=MEPC 62 Brief |url=https://ww2.eagle.org/content/dam/eagle/regulatory-news/2011/MEPC%2062%20Brief%202a-EA%20rev1.pdf}}</ref> * Mediterranean Sea – since 1 May 2025<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=1 May 2025 |title=New sulphur emission limits enter into effect in the Mediterranean |url=https://www.imo.org/en/mediacentre/pages/whatsnew-2254.aspx |access-date=2026-02-09 |website=International Maritime Organization |language=EN}}</ref>

=== Proposed === * Norwegian Sea * Parts of the Canadian Arctic * North-East Atlantic Ocean<ref name=":1" />

=== Areas with extra regulation === * heritage fjords in Norway (will require 100% emission-free sailing by 2026)

== Future ==

As with road vehicles adding large battery packs would add further benefits such as stabilising electrical systems, sailing with the engines off, plugging into the local grid when docked and the ability to visit places such as the heritage fjords in Norway (which require 100% emission-free sailing from 2026)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Morton |first=Alasdair |date=2023-08-25 |title=Feature: Electrifying cruise ships |url=https://www.electrichybridmarinetechnology.com/features/feature-electrifying-cruise-ships.html |access-date=2025-01-11 |website=Electric Hybrid Marine Technology |language=en-US}}</ref>

As well as reducing and/or cleaning diesel fumes alternative fuels maybe an option such as LNG<ref>{{Cite web |title=Silversea to launch first hybrid powered ship |url=https://www.invoyage.net/top-stories/silversea-to-launch-first-hybrid-powered-ship |access-date=2025-01-11 |website=inVOYAGE |language=en-GB}}</ref>

== Notes == {{reflist|group="note"}}

==References== {{reflist}}

==Further reading== * {{cite web |url=https://www.dnv.com/news/a-new-eca-and-speed-reduction-limits-in-south-korean-ports-173622 |title=A new ECA and speed reduction limits in South Korean ports |publisher=DNV |date=27 April 2020 |access-date=11 June 2021}}

Category:Environmental impact of shipping