A sea area designated under MARPOL Annex VI where stricter limits on sulfur and NOx emissions from ships apply.
Quick facts
Regulation
MARPOL Annex VI
In practice
For an officer of the watch and chief engineer, entering or departing an ECA requires a controlled fuel oil changeover to low-sulphur fuel or alternative compliance. The time required to flush the fuel system must be calculated to ensure that the maximum permitted sulphur content is being burned by the time the ECA boundary is crossed. The changeover — including tank readings, engine load, and time — must be recorded in the Engine Room Log. The ship must also carry bunker delivery notes confirming the sulphur content of all fuel on board.
Regulatory detail & full definition
An Emission Control Area is a sea area designated under MARPOL Annex VI within which stricter controls apply to emissions of sulphur oxides (SOx), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and in some areas particulate matter from ships. The current ECAs include the Baltic Sea, the North Sea, the North American ECA (covering coasts of the USA and Canada), and the United States Caribbean Sea ECA. Within these areas, the sulphur content of fuel oil used by ships must not exceed 0.10% m/m, compared with the global cap of 0.50% m/m outside ECAs.
For an officer of the watch and chief engineer, entering or departing an ECA requires a controlled fuel oil changeover to low-sulphur fuel or alternative compliance. The time required to flush the fuel system must be calculated to ensure that the maximum permitted sulphur content is being burned by the time the ECA boundary is crossed. The changeover — including tank readings, engine load, and time — must be recorded in the Engine Room Log. The ship must also carry bunker delivery notes confirming the sulphur content of all fuel on board.
Port state control inspectors in ECA member states check fuel oil records and may take fuel samples to verify compliance. New ECAs are being proposed for additional regions, and officers must stay current with which areas are designated. Non-compliance with ECA sulphur limits carries significant financial penalties and reputational consequences for the company.