As of May 1, 2025, the Mediterranean Sea is officially designated as an Emission Control Area (ECA) for sulphur oxides (SOx), requiring all vessels in the region to use fuel with a sulphur content no higher than 0.10% or use scrubbers. This move, adopted by the IMO, is expected to reduce SOx emissions by nearly 79% and PM2.5 emissions by 23.7%, improving air quality and preventing over 1,000 premature deaths annually. Unlike other ECAs, the Mediterranean zone does not include nitrogen oxide restrictions. The initiative, driven by 21 Mediterranean countries and the EU, complements existing ECAs in Europe and North America. A new North-East Atlantic ECA, covering waters from Portugal to Greenland, is also set to come into effect by 2027.
