Although information on Emission Control Areas (hereinafter referred to as ECA) specified in MARPOL ANNEX VI (hereinafter referred to as ANNEX VI) has already been provided in ClassNK Technical Information No.TEC-0654 issued on 13 April 2006, No.TEC-0832 issued on 11 November 2010 and No.TEC-0866 issued on 4 October 2011, please be advised that said information also now applies to the Mediterranean Sea Area since it has been designated as a new ECA in accordance with the amendments to ANNEX VI adopted at the 79th session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 79) held in December 2022. Relevant information regarding this has been circulated by the IMO as Resolution MEPC.361(79).

This ClassNK Technical Information provides the following information related to the above matter.

1. Sea area newly designated as ECA
The Mediterranean Sea Area is designated as ECA for SOx and PM. Please refer to IMO Resolution MEPC.361(79) for the detailed definition of the term "The Mediterranean Sea Emission Control Area". (The definition has been added to Appendix VII of ANNEX VI by the above-mentioned amendments.)

2. Application
The amendments will enter into force on 1 May 2024. However, requirements regarding SOx and PM emissions (Regulation 14 etc. of ANNEX VI) in the Mediterranean Sea Area as ECA will start being enforced on 1 May 2025 because an exemption clause for the first 12 months is specified in ANNEX VI.

(To be continued)