MARPOL Special Areas + ECAs + PSSAs
MARPOL 73/78 defines "Special Areas" where stricter discharge rules apply than in general sea areas — recognising that certain semi-enclosed seas have ecological or oceanographic conditions that make general discharge rules inadequate. Since 2005, the framework has been extended with Emission Control Areas (ECAs — under Annex VI, targeting SOx and NOx) and Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas (PSSAs — Assembly Resolution A.982(24) framework). This page catalogues the operational boundaries and the PSC-inspection focus you can expect in each.
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).