Caribbean ECA approved for adoption

Tue 12 Oct 2010, 15:53 GMT

Caribbean ECA approved for adoption

Waters adjacent to Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands to be put forward for adoption at MEPC 62.

The International Maritime Organization(IMO)'s Marine Environmental Protection Committee (MEPC) has approved a proposal to designate certain waters adjacent to the coast of Puerto Rico (United States) and the Virgin Islands (United States) as an ECA for the control of emissions of nitrogen oxide (NOX), sulphur oxide (SOX), and particulate matter under MARPOL Annex VI Regulations for the prevention of air pollution from ships.

The news follows reports that the 61st meeting of the MEPC in London last week had failed to make progres on the issue of an ECA in Caribbean waters. However, the IMO has confirmed that the proposal was finally approved and will be considered for adoption at the next MEPC session.

Currently, there are two designated ECAs under Annex VI, the Baltic Sea area and the North Sea area, while a third area, the North American ECA, was adopted in March 2010, with expected entry into force in August 2011.

IMO Policy Puerto Rico Virgin Islands, US


		Lloyd’s Register delivers fleet-wide energy transition roadmap for TMS Tankers LR Advisory maps vessel-level compliance risk and decarbonisation pathways across the Greek owner’s tanker fleet.

		GCMD shares biofuel assurance and green finance insights at Hong Kong shipping decarbonisation forum The Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation presented pilot findings on biofuels and energy efficiency financing.

		Maersk conducts large-scale ethanol bunkering trial on Laura Maersk in Rotterdam A.P. Moller – Maersk has conducted a barge-delivered ethanol bunkering operation as part of ongoing fuel trials.

		MOL Techno-Trade completes first LNG bunkering for international cruise ship in Hokkaido Truck-to-ship LNG operation at Hakodate marks first such supply to an international cruise vessel in Hokkaido.

		Acta Marine takes delivery of methanol dual-fuel CSOV Acta Gemini for RWE wind farm charter The vessel will support operations at the Sofia Offshore Wind Farm at Dogger Bank.

		Malik Supply expands Danish team with bunker trader and finance hire Danish bunker supplier Malik Supply adds two new staff across its Fredericia and Aalborg offices.

		HJSC wins AiP for 10,000-teu biofuel-powered container ship design South Korean shipbuilder HJ Shipbuilding & Construction receives classification society approval for its biofuel vessel design at Posidonia.

		Capital Clean Energy Carriers takes delivery of LNG carrier and dual-fuel gas carrier, secures five new charters Athens-based CCEC expands its fleet and pushes contracted revenue backlog to $3.1bn.

		Fuel quality management for vessels in extended idle: Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman and adjacent anchorages \| Rahul Choudhuri, VPS Managing fuel quality deterioration following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

		Agastya Green Fuels signs 250,000 t/yr e-methanol offtake deal with Sri Lanka’s SAR Group Indian producer and Sri Lankan maritime firm agree long-term green methanol supply partnership.