Mediterranean ECA May Be Proposed Next Year

According to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), a proposal for an Emissions Control Area (ECA) across the Mediterranean could be submitted next year.

The IMO's head of air pollution and energy efficiency, Edmund Hughes, recently said that there were discussions over a possible ECA in the Mediterranean Region. Hughes noted that this ECA would be for nitrous oxide (NOx) and sulphur emissions.

ECAs are established to cut emissions from ships near land in order to improve human health and further mitigate pollution of the seas caused by shipping. Hughes further emphasized that a potential Mediterranean ECA would be on the 22 member states of the Barcelona Convention. The Barcelona Convention holds its annual meeting in December.

Recently, the Italian and French environment ministries have issued a joint call for the introduction of an ECA in the Mediterranean. On the contrary, Cyprus, Greece, and Malta have previously opposed the move.

Even though Hughes and various Mediterranean countries are pushing for an ECA with new IMO regulations, U.S. President Donald Trump and his administration have expressed skepticism over a sulphur cap on emissions from ships. The White House has advocated for a slower implementation, so that "IMO 2020 occurs in a manner that is not harmful to consumers and the global economy."

New IMO regulations require that ship's bunker fuel contain no more than 0.5% sulphur, down from 3.5% now. The new IMO regulations will go into effect on 1 January, 2020

Hughes said it was up to member states to determine how the IMO's new rules were enforced.