Emission Control Areas


Emission Control Areas (ECAs), also known as Sulfur Emission Control Areas, are sea areas in which stricter controls were established to minimize airborne emissions from ships as per the regulations of Annex VI of the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) MARPOL Protocol. These controls apply to all fuel oil, as well as to all combustion equipment and devices onboard and therefore include both main and all auxiliary engines together with items such boilers and inert gas generators. The primary aim of ECAs is to protect human health and the environment by reducing harmful emissions of sulfur oxides (SOx), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and particulate matter. There are currently four established ECAs: the Baltic Sea area; the North Sea area; the North American area; and the United States Caribbean Sea area. Ships operating in these areas are required to use fuel oil with a maximum sulfur content of 0.10% m/m, or use an approved equivalent method to limit SOx and particulate emissions.


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