The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) welcomes the designation of the Mediterranean Sea as an Emission Control Area (ECA) by the International Maritime Organization (IMO); a milestone on the road to achieving more sustainable shipping.
Once this designation comes into effect (2024), ships will have to comply with stricter limits on particulate matter and sulfur oxide (SOx) emissions: these must not exceed 0.10%, representing a reduction of approximately 79% (SOx emissions). Outside of ECA zones, the established limit is 0.50%.
The Mediterranean will thus become the fifth area designated as an ECA. The other four are: the Baltic Sea area; the North Sea area; the North American area, covering certain areas of the United States and Canada; and the United States Caribbean Sea area (around Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands).
