China – Establishment of Emission Control Areas (ECA) The Association has received the attached circular from our Chinese correspondents Huatai Insurance Agency & Consultant Service Ltd. on the establishment of Emission Control Areas (ECA) in China for reducing the emission of air pollutants from ships. Please be advised that the current standard (3.5% m/m in accordance with the requirements under Marpol Annex VI) shall generally continue to be applied until 31 December 2016. However, local ports in ECAs are authorised to make their own regulations requiring ships to comply with even more stringent standards during 2016.  At the time of writing, it appears that more stringent standards have not been confirmed in any port / ECA, but members are recommended to check for the most up-to-date local regulations when a vessel of theirs is due to call at any port in an ECA.