Starting May 1st, stricter regulations on marine fuels to control sulphur emissions.
As of 1 May 2025, the Mediterranean Sea has officially become a Sulphur Emission Control Area (Med SOx ECA) under MARPOL Annex VI, requiring ships to use fuel with a sulphur content of no more than 0.1%.
The IMO Net-zero Framework is the first in the world to combine mandatory emissions limits and GHG pricing across an entire industry sector.
Approved by the Marine Environment Protection Committee during its 83rd session (MEPC 83) from 7–11 April 2025, the measures include a new fuel standard for ships and a global pricing mechanism for emissions.
This change aims to significantly reduce air pollution, benefiting both human health and the environment. Lower sulphur emissions can decrease respiratory diseases and protect ecosystems.
Given that the Mediterranean supports a large portion of global maritime traffic, the impact is expected to be substantial.
The Med SOx ECA is now the fifth designated ECA, joining regions such as the Baltic and North Seas. This measure follows a global sulphur cap introduced in 2020, which already achieved a 70% reduction in emissions from ships.
The Mediterranean Sea is home to some of the busiest maritime routes in the world, supporting 20% of seaborne trade. It is estimated that more than 17% of worldwide cruises and 24% of the world fleet navigate the Mediterranean Sea.