The International Maritime Organization has included the entire Mediterranean Sea in the scope of the Emission Control Areas (ECA) as of May 1, 2025, creating the Med Sox SECA (Sulphur Emission Control Area). Its establishment is the result of a proposal put forward by several Mediterranean countries, which was approved by the IMO under Regulation 14 of Annex VI of the Marpol Convention. The main objective is to reduce the sulfur content in marine fuel, requiring ships operating in the area to use fuels with a sulfur content not exceeding 0.10%. This represents a reduction from the current limit, which allows up to 0.50% sulfur content.
The scope of the regulations covers the entire Mediterranean Sea, encompassing twenty-two countries that are part of the Barcelona Convention, including Italy, France, Spain, Greece, Egypt, Turkey, and Algeria. The geographical boundaries are clearly defined: to the southeast by the entrance to the Suez Canal, to the northeast by the Dardanelles, and to the west by the meridian passing through the Cape Spartel lighthouse.
The Med Sox ECA fits into an international regulatory framework aimed at reducing air pollution caused by ships. The IMO adopted this measure through Resolution MEPC.361(79), which amends the 1997 Protocol to the Marpol Convention. The decision aligns with the European Parliament's Directive (EU) 2016/802, which sets sulfur limits for marine fuels and other types of fuel. Globally, other SECA areas already exist, including the Baltic Sea, the North Sea, and North America, which apply similar standards. The IMO has proposed the introduction of another ECA in the Northeast Atlantic, an initiative that could extend by 2027 and would connect the current control areas.
The impact of this measure is mainly reflected in air quality and public health. It is estimated that, thanks to the reduction in sulfur emissions, around 1,100 premature deaths and 2,300 cases of childhood asthma could be avoided each year. Environmentally, marine pollution and ocean acidification will decrease, thus protecting the entire Mediterranean ecosystem, which has about 250 million inhabitants.
The introduction of the Med Sox ECA will bring significant changes to the maritime sector. Shipping companies will face higher operational costs related to the purchase of fuel with reduced sulfur content. Some companies have already announced the introduction of an "emissions charge", a surcharge on freight rates, to cover the additional costs associated with complying with the new regulations.
In container transport, the major shipping companies have already announced surcharges for the Mediterranean SECA: MSC will charge \$25 per TEU for shipments from Australia and New Zealand and \$15 per TEU for those coming from Asia; CMA CGM will charge \$20 per TEU for shipments from Asia, \$10 per TEU for those heading to Asia, the Middle East, and the Red Sea, and \$25 per TEU for shipments to West Africa; ONE will charge \$17 per TEU for all shipments entering or leaving the Mediterranean. Maersk has integrated the SECA surcharge into its Fossil Fuel Fee, with amounts varying by route (e.g., up to €272 per 20-foot container on the North Europe-Mediterranean route).
