Almost one year into the latest phase of Sulfur Emission Control Areas (SECAs) in the maritime sector, these rules are increasingly dividing opinion.
First established in May 2005, Emission Control Areas (ECAs) are large sea zones operating under strict controls to minimise airborne emissions such as sulfur oxides (SOx) and other particulate matter.
Gradually tightening in their emission limits since then, from 1st January 2015 the four established ECAs established under MARPOL protocol Annex VI – the Baltic Sea area, North Sea area, North American area and the US Caribbean Sea area – require ships trading in these zones to use fuel on-board with a sulfur content of no more than 0.10%. This is a further clampdown from the limit of 1.00% effective up until 31st December 2014.
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