Mediterranean Sea Designated as Emission Control Area for Sulphur Oxides

Starting from May 1, 2025, the Mediterranean Sea will be officially designated as an Emission Control Area (ECA) for sulphur oxides (SOx) under MARPOL Annex VI Regulation 14, as adopted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). This important development mandates that vessels operating in the Mediterranean Sea use fuel with a sulphur content not exceeding 0.10%. This regulation is anticipated to significantly reduce air pollution levels in the Mediterranean region and its coastal states, offering considerable benefits to both human health and the environment.

With this designation, the Mediterranean Sea becomes the fifth area worldwide to be recognized as an Emission Control Area for Sulphur Oxides, joining other globally acknowledged ECAs.

What This Means for Our Customers

The recovery of 0.10% sulphur fuel is already integrated into our existing Fossil Fuel Fee (FFF) calculation methodology. To comply with this new regulation, the cost of compliance will be recovered through an increase in the FFF on impacted trades starting from May 1, 2025.

To ensure transparency and provide ample time for planning, customer advisories with updated FFF on impacted trades will be published on April 1, 2025. We encourage our customers to review these advisories and reach out to their sales representatives for further information and assistance.

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we work together to meet these new environmental standards.

For any questions or additional information, please do not hesitate to contact your sales representative.