IMO revised the List of Special Areas, ECAs, and PSSAs

The International Maritime Organization on 30 October 2023 issued MEPC.1/Circ.778/Rev.4, the revised List of Special Areas, Emission Control Areas, and Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas.

Special Areas and Emission Control Areas (ECAs) under MARPOL

Special Areas are defined under MARPOL Annexes I, IV, and V as sea areas where, for recognized technical reasons in relation to their oceanographical and ecological conditions and to the particular character of their sea traffic, the adoption of special mandatory methods for the prevention of pollution of the sea from ships by oil, sewage or garbage, as applicable, is required.

Emission Control Areas (ECA) are defined under MARPOL Annex VI as areas where the adoption of special mandatory measures to regulate emissions from ships is required to prevent, reduce and control air pollution from NOX and/or SOX and/or particulate matter (PM) and their attendant adverse impacts on human health and the environment.

Under MARPOL, Special Areas and ECAs are provided with a higher level of protection than other sea areas.

While a number of such areas were designated when the 1973 MARPOL Convention and MARPOL Annex VI were first adopted in 1973 and 1997, respectively, additional Special Areas and ECAs have since been designated through the adoption of amendments to the relevant MARPOL Annexes.

A list of designated Special Areas and ECAs under MARPOL is set out in annex 1, also providing information on the adoption date of the respective amendments to relevant MARPOL Annexes, as appropriate; the date of entry into force of such amendments; and the date on which the more stringent measures took effect for Special Areas.

Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas

MEPC began its study of the issue of Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas (PSSAs) in response to resolution 9 of the 1978 International Conference on Tanker Safety and Pollution Prevention concerning the protection of such sea areas.

Recognizing the importance of the matter, the Committee consequently defined PSSAs as sea areas needing special protection through action by IMO because of their recognized ecological, socio-economic, or scientific attributes which may be vulnerable to damage by international shipping activities.

IMO, through MEPC, is the only international body responsible for assessing proposals for and designating PSSAs and adopting associated protective measures (APMs) applicable to international shipping.

So far, MEPC has assessed and designated 16 PSSAs, including two extensions to existing PSSAs, in accordance with the Revised guidelines for the Identification and Designation of Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas (resolution A.982(24), as amended by resolution MEPC.267(68)).

The key details of these PSSAs are provided in annex 2, which also contains information on the proposing State(s), the corresponding APMs, and the date of adoption of the MEPC resolutions designating the PSSAs.