(LONDON) — The Canadian Arctic and the Norwegian Sea officially became Emission Control Areas (ECAs) on March 1 under MARPOL Annex VI. In the two new areas, ships must meet stricter emission limits on nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur oxides (SOx) and particulate matter (PM).
The new ECAs were designated through Resolution MEPC.392(82), adopted at MEPC 82 in October 2024. Within ECAS, the sulfur content in fuel oil for ships is limited to 0.10 percent.
Decreasing SOx and NOx emissions from shipping improves human health by lowering rates of lung cancer, cardiovascular disease, strokes and childhood asthma. The environment also benefits significantly, as reduced acidification helps protect crops, forests and aquatic species. Finally, these measures are expected to reduce haze caused by ships, increasing visibility and decreasing the risk of maritime accidents.
The Canadian Arctic area extends the existing North American ECA to include all Canadian Arctic waters. The Norwegian Sea area extends the existing North Sea ECA and covers the Norwegian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) as well as fjords and coastal waters, reaching the Russian border.
The Canadian Arctic and the Norwegian Sea ECAs for nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides and particulate matter are now the sixth and seventh ECAs under MARPOL Annex VI, alongside the Mediterranean Sea, the Baltic Sea area, the North Sea area, the North American area (covering designated coastal areas off the United States and Canada), and the United States Caribbean Sea ECA (around Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands).
In April 2025, MEPC 83 approved a proposal to designate the northeast Atlantic as an ECA. This is expected to be adopted at MEPC 84 in April 2026.
On Jan. 1, 2020, new limits on sulfur content in fuel oil led to a 70 percent reduction in total sulfur oxide emissions from shipping by setting a maximum sulfur content of 0.5 percent outside the ECAs.
– International Maritime Organization
