On the occasion of the upcoming MEPC 78, environmental organisations from the region NABU issued a press statement to advocate for a Mediterranean Emission Control Area, highlighting that no further discussion is needed towards the issue.
Among others, the IMO’s agenda will include discussions on an emission control area in the Mediterranean Sea, wastewater from exhaust gas desulfurization of heavy fuel oil and climate measures. In particular, the proposal to declare the Mediterranean Sea a Sulphur Emission Control Area (SECA) supported by all littoral countries and the EU will be discussed and send to approval to the next Marine Environmental Protection Committee meeting.
In that regard, NABU, who has been fighting to clean up Mediterranean ship pollutions for four years, explicitly welcomes the proposal through a submission of the CSC (Clean Shipping Coalition) to the IMO.
The international community must treat the proposal for an emission control area in the Mediterranean positively. No further discussions are needed. Assessments show huge positive effects by very small price in comparison. The member states must initiate everything so that it can be formally adopted at the next committee meeting in December to guarantee the SECAs entry into force in 2025.
…Sönke Diesener, Transport Policy at NABU highlighted
Diesener added that it is high time for immediate phase-out of heavy fuel oil and effective climate measures for shipping, considering industry’s ambitious targets to halve GHGs by 2030 and become climate-neutral by 2050. Recently, as part of the Fit for 55 package, the European Union has also proposed various regulations for shipping which can put pressure on international negotiations at the IMO to strengthen and accelerate climate protection ambitions
The effects of the SECAs entry into force (SOx 0,1%) are not the same that North / Baltic Sea / North America have had almost 10 years ago (then SOx allowed 3,5%, reduction 3,4%) and currently the allowed content is only 0,5% (so reduction is 0,4% only) and almost 50% of ships already are using MDO/MGO (0,1% or less content)
NOx ruled emissions does not dpend on NOx emissions ECA but on new or existing condition of ship engines.
Immediate phase-out of heavy fuel oil is not ruled by IMO except above standards and the European Union should respect international negotiations.