The Med Became an Emission Control Area on May 1st
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 in Emission Control Areas for Sulphur Oxides and Particulate Matter, such as the Mediterranean Sea, are now subject to strict mandatory measures to prevent, reduce, and control air pollution. This new ECA must comply with stricter sulphur content limits than those set by the global standard (0.10% mass by mass (m/m), compared with 0.50% m/m allowed outside SOx ECAs).
Read more on the IMO website: https://www.imo.org/en/MediaCentre/Pages/WhatsNew-2254.aspx
