MARPOL Special Areas + ECAs + PSSAs

Discharge + emission Special Areas (11)

• Mediterranean Sea

  Applies to

  Annex I (oil), II (chemicals), V (garbage)

  Entered force

  1983 (Annex I), 2009 (Annex V)

  Boundary

  The entire Mediterranean including the Adriatic + Aegean; westward limit at 5°36′W (Cape Trafalgar–Cape Spartel).

  PSC focus

  Zero oil discharge from machinery spaces; strict cargo-tank washings retention.

• Baltic Sea

  Applies to

  Annex I, II, IV (sewage), V, VI (SECA)

  Entered force

  1983 (Annex I), 2011 (SECA)

  Boundary

  Baltic proper + Gulfs of Bothnia, Finland, Riga; westward limit at the entrance to Skagerrak at 57°44.8′N.

  PSC focus

  Sulphur cap 0.10% since 2015; Annex IV zero-sewage since 2019 for new passenger ships (2021 for existing).

• Black Sea

  Applies to

  Annex I, V

  Entered force

  1983 (Annex I)

  Boundary

  Enclosed sea between Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Russia, Georgia; not including the Sea of Marmara.

  PSC focus

  Full oil-discharge prohibition from machinery spaces; garbage-discharge complete ban.

• Red Sea

  Applies to

  Annex I, V

  Entered force

  In force for Annex I when specified conditions met; Annex V in force since 2013.

  Boundary

  Between Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea, Djibouti, Yemen, Saudi Arabia; northern limit at 12°N 43°E.

  PSC focus

  Coral reef sensitivity; strict garbage regime; Djibouti + Suez Canal transit compliance checks.

• Gulfs area

  Applies to

  Annex I, V

  Entered force

  1983 (Annex I)

  Boundary

  Persian/Arabian Gulf + Gulf of Oman; southeastern limit at 22°30′N 59°48′E.

  PSC focus

  Oil discharge prohibition; garbage strict; important as major crude-export region.

• Gulf of Aden

  Applies to

  Annex I

  Entered force

  1989 (subject to conditions)

  Boundary

  Northwestern Indian Ocean between Yemen + Djibouti + Somalia; western limit at Bab-el-Mandeb.

  PSC focus

  Oil-discharge prohibition; overlap with High Risk Area for piracy adds operational complexity.

• Wider Caribbean

  Applies to

  Annex V

  Entered force

  1993

  Boundary

  Gulf of Mexico + Caribbean Sea between Florida, Central America, South America, and the Antilles.

  PSC focus

  Garbage regime; food-waste-only discharge permitted with limits.

• North Sea

  Applies to

  Annex V, VI (SECA)

  Entered force

  1990 (Annex V), 2007 (SECA)

  Boundary

  Bounded by UK, Norway, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, France; ECA-SECA area extends to English Channel.

  PSC focus

  Sulphur cap 0.10% since 2015; garbage complete ban; heavy PSC-inspection focus at Rotterdam, Hamburg, Antwerp.

• Antarctic Area

  Applies to

  Annex I, II, IV, V

  Entered force

  1992

  Boundary

  South of 60°S latitude.

  PSC focus

  Complete oil + sewage + garbage discharge prohibition; heavy fuel oil (HFO) prohibited on vessels operating in Antarctic waters (from 2011).

• North American ECA

  Applies to

  Annex VI (ECA-SOx + ECA-NOx)

  Entered force

  2012 (SOx), 2016 (NOx Tier III)

  Boundary

  200 nm from US, Canadian, and French (Saint-Pierre-Miquelon) coastlines, encompassing the eastern seaboard, Gulf of Mexico, and West Coast.

  PSC focus

  Sulphur cap 0.10% since 2015; NOx Tier III for keels laid on/after 1 Jan 2016; heavy PSC-inspection focus at Long Beach, New York-New Jersey, Vancouver, Halifax.

• US Caribbean Sea ECA

  Applies to

  Annex VI (ECA-SOx + ECA-NOx)

  Entered force

  2014

  Boundary

  200 nm around Puerto Rico + US Virgin Islands.

  PSC focus

  Sulphur cap 0.10%; NOx Tier III for new-build after 2014.

Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas (15)

PSSAs are designated under Assembly Resolution A.982(24). The designation triggers Associated Protective Measures (APMs) — typically routeing measures (Areas To Be Avoided, Traffic Separation Schemes) or discharge restrictions.

• The Great Barrier Reef and Torres Strait (Australia, 1990/2005) — compulsory pilotage in inner-route sections.
• The Sabana-Camagüey Archipelago (Cuba, 1997).
• Malpelo Island (Colombia, 2002).
• The sea around the Florida Keys (US, 2002).
• The Wadden Sea (Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, 2002).
• Paracas National Reserve (Peru, 2003).
• Western European Waters (2004) — Areas To Be Avoided by loaded tankers along the Portuguese, Spanish, French, Irish, UK coasts.
• Canary Islands (Spain, 2005).
• Galapagos Archipelago (Ecuador, 2005).
• Baltic Sea Area (2005) — excluding Russian waters.
• Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument (US, 2007).
• Strait of Bonifacio (France + Italy, 2011).
• Saba Bank (Netherlands, 2012).
• Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park (Philippines, 2017).
• Jomard Entrance (Papua New Guinea, 2016).