North-east Atlantic joins the expanding network of ECAs in International Shipping News 22/06/2026 Recent amendments to MARPOL Annex VI adopted at MEPC 84 introduce the North-East Atlantic as a new Emission Control Area (ECA) for nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulphur oxides (SOx) and particulate matter (PM). The regulations enter into force on 1 September 2027. North-East Atlantic ECA In general, the ECAs are designed to reduce air pollution from NOx, SOx and PM, and play a vital role in protecting sensitive marine environments as well as improving air quality for nearby communities. The latest addition is the North-East Atlantic ECA, covering the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) and territorial seas of Portugal, Spain, France, Ireland, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, Greenland and mainland UK that are not already included in existing ECAs. The EEZs surrounding Madeira, the Azores and the Canary Islands will be excluded. The precise ECA boundaries are defined by exact coordinates in Appendix VII of the revised MARPOL Annex VI. Once in force, this designation will create a continuous ECA across the North-East Atlantic, linking the Canadian Arctic, Norwegian Sea, North Sea and Mediterranean Sea ECAs into a single, connected regulatory area.   Application The North-East Atlantic ECA, as part of the next amendments to Annex VI of MARPOL, will enter into force on 1 September 2027. The effective dates will be as follows: SOx requirements The sulphur limits for new North-East Atlantic ECA take effect 12 months after entry into force, in other words on 1 September 2028. From that date onwards, ships must use fuel with a sulphur content of no more than 0.10%. Alternatively, compliance may be achieved using exhaust gas cleaning systems (EGCS) when operating on higher-sulphur fuels. However, it should be noted that restrictions on the use of open-loop EGCSs are becoming increasingly stringent, particularly in the coastal waters of northern Europe under OSPAR (please refer to our Techn