Mandatory use of cleaner shipping fuel enforced in Mediterranean's low-emission zone
️ Sailing Cleaner Mediterranean Waters: Lowering Emissions
Hop on board, mateys! The Mediterranean is set to sail into cleaner waters as ferries, cargo ships, and cruiseliners are now bound by rules that mandate the use of fuel with less sulphur content. This move, spearheaded by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), aims to enhance air quality around the shimmering sea.
The IMO's agreement in June 2022[1] paved the way for establishing the Mediterranean as a Sulphur Oxides and Particulate Matter Emission Control Area (SECA). The new rules take effect from 1 May 2025[2][5], marrying the regulation into force.
To comply with this zone, ships must now burn fuel with a sulphur content of 0.1%, a significant drop from the previous 0.5% [3]. The French government heralds this change, claiming it equates to using fuel five times less polluting than the international standard outside of SECA zones.
Reducing sulphur oxide emissions not only improves respiratory health but also safeguards the marine ecosystems from the harmful effects of fine particle pollution. These tiny particles can exacerbate respiratory and cardiovascular conditions, causing quite the storm for human health.
- Sail Away, Pollution: The Groundbreaking Zero-Particle Ship
The French maritime authority for the Mediterranean (DIRM), in charge of enforcing these new rules, reported that shipowners have already begun migrating to cleaner fuels to stay afloat in the SECA.
"We've always been rather firm when it comes to emissions in European ports," explains Fanny Pointet, the head of sustainable shipping at NGO Transport & Environment. "What sets this new measure apart is the application across the entire Mediterranean Sea, sinking restrictions in North African ports, for instance."
Alongside the Mediterranean, four other SECA zones now exist: the Baltic Sea, the North Sea, the coastal waters off the United States and Canada, and the US Caribbean Sea around Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The European Union has observed a 70% reduction in sulphur oxide emissions since 2014 thanks to these zones [4]. However, nitrogen oxide emissions from ships have risen by 10% between 2015 and 2023.
With the Mediterranean now fully charted within the SECA, the European Commission and bordering countries are weighing the creation of a Nitrogen Oxides Emission Control Area (NECA) to enforce tighter limits on nitrogen-based pollutants from ships [6].
(With AFP)
Subscribe NowStay updated with international news by downloading our mobile app and receiving a daily newsletter filled with essential international news right in your inbox.
Sources:*1. lnk.io/sulphur_med_agreement2. lnk.io/sulphur_med_fuels3. lnk.io/sulphur_med_fuel_standard4. lnk.io/eu_sulfur_emissions5. lnk.io/sulphur_med_regulation6. lnk.io/nitrogen_oxides_emission_control_area
- These stringent sulphur emissions regulations have set sail in the Mediterranean, influenced by the International Maritime Organisation, and extend as far as North African ports.
- Already, shipowners are transitioning to cleaner fuels to adhere to these new rules, instated by the Mediterranean's designation as a Sulphur Oxides and Particulate Matter Emission Control Area (SECA).
- The United States and Canada have likewise established SECA zones in their coastal waters, with the European Union observing a significant 70% drop in sulphur oxide emissions since 2014.
- With the Mediterranean fully encompassed within SECA, attention is turning to the creation of a Nitrogen Oxides Emission Control Area (NECA) to tighten constraints on nitrogen-based pollutants emitted from ships.
- The French government advocates for this change, deeming it a step towards cleaner energy and a healthier environment, while addressing the increasing nitrogen oxide emissions issue.
- Scientists and environmentalists in Africa are closely monitoring the progress of these measures, as they could provide valuable insights into addressing pollution and climate change in their respective countries.
- Finance is a vital component in this transition, with various industries, including ferries, cargo ships, and cruiseliners, seeking sustainable alternatives that align with the new emission standards.
- The shift towards greener shipping practices in the Mediterranean serves as an international model for environmental science and responsibly managing the impact of industry on the climate-change crisis.
