The IMO has formally adopted the world’s largest emission control area (ECA) in the North-East Atlantic Ocean, establishing stricter emissions limits for ships operating in one of the world’s busiest maritime corridors.The
The IMO has formally adopted the world’s largest emission control area (ECA) in the North-East Atlantic Ocean, establishing stricter emissions limits for ships operating in one of the world’s busiest maritime corridors.
The new ECA is expected to be fully implemented in September 2028 and covers the exclusive economic zones of France, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, the United Kingdom, Iceland, Greenland, and the Faroe Islands—a region home to more than 190 million people. It will also link existing ECAs in the Baltic, North, and Mediterranean Seas, and connect them with recently approved ECAs in the Norwegian Sea and Canadian Arctic.
Ships operating these waters will face binding limits on the maximum fuel sulfur content to control sulfur oxides (SOx) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5). Ships built 1 January 2027 or later will also face stricter engine limits on nitrogen oxides (NOx). These pollutants are linked to serious health impacts like respiratory and cardiovascular disease, in addition to premature death. Beyond the impact on air quality, shipborne SOx and NOx emissions also contribute to ocean acidification, harming marine ecosystems and disrupting the development and habitats of marine species.
The decision was formalized at this week’s 84th session of the IMO’s Marine Environment
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