Tag: Emission Control Areas (ECA)

Bahamas Maritime Authority (BMA) reminds operators information regarding new air pollutant emission reduction incentives, that were recently announced by the Ministry of Oceans And Fisheries of the Republic of Korea (South Korea).

In line with the stricter environmental regulations applied in 2020, South Korea has introduced domestically new environmental laws applying voluntary speed limits for ships and emission control areas, according to data provided by North P&I Club.

Taiwan fined four ships NT$ 100,000 each, which is around USD$ 3,300, for violating the new emissions control area (ECA) regulations, according to local media citing a note from the Ministry of Transportation and Communications.

The European Network calls the decision makers to fasten their process on officializing a Mediterranean ECA, commenting that the plan for the designation of a MedECA that was discussed during the UNEP Mediterranean Action Plan meeting “is by far not ambitious enough in timing and scope.”

The Office of Commercial Vessel Compliance issued CG-CVC Policy Letter 12-04 in 2012 asking for correspondence from flag administrations regarding equivalencies for exhaust gas cleaning systems (scrubbers) under MARPOL Annex VI Regulation 4.

The UK Club informed that it has received an update from Oasis P&I Services Company Ltd., regarding breach of low-sulphur fuel requirements in ECA in China. Recently, local MSA offices strengthened supervision and inspection, imposing penalties on ships which were found to violating these requirements. 

As the Standard Club informs, the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment and the Coastal Region of the Mediterranean (Barcelona Convention) was adopted in order to reduce pollution and protect the marine environment in the Mediterranean Sea.

US Attorney Gretchen Shappert for the District of the Virgin Islands announced that two Greek Shipping companies have been convicted and sentenced for various pollution, record-keeping, and obstruction of justice crimes. The defendants’ conduct included using fuel that surpassed the maximum allowable sulfur concentration in the US Caribbean Emission Control Area

The establishment of air emissions regulations in the form of Emission Control Areas (ECA) and the upcoming IMO 2020 sulphur cap are leading the search for economically, commercially, and environmentally acceptable marine fuels. US Coast Guard examiners are seeing a new trend on ships carrying liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and ethane. Namely, these vessels are using their cargoes as fuel during ocean transits. 

To address negative effects on human health and ecosystems of maritime activities, more than 80 participants from 19 Mediterranean coastal States and European Union, as well as the IMO and the United Nations Environment Programme, other governmental and non-governmental organizations, the industry and associations, met in Malta last week to discuss several technical issues and strategic issues.