Operational Guide · Registers & Logbooks

# New North-East Atlantic ECA: SOx, PM and NOx (MEPC 84)

A new emission control area is never news to read the day before entering it: the North-East Atlantic becomes an ECA for sulphur, particulate matter and nitrogen oxides from 1 September 2027, and fuel changeover planning needs revisiting well in advance.

ECA MEPC 84 MARPOL Annex VI North-East Atlantic

## Operational Explanation

MEPC 84 (27 April - 1 May 2026) adopted amendments to MARPOL Annex VI designating the North-East Atlantic as a new Emission Control Area (ECA) for sulphur oxides (SOx), particulate matter (PM) and nitrogen oxides (NOx), joining the existing ECAs (Baltic, North Sea, North America, US Caribbean, Mediterranean for SOx).

The amendments enter into force on 1 September 2027. For ships regularly transiting the area, this means revising fuel changeover planning and the availability of ECA-compliant fuel well in advance, exactly as already happens for existing ECAs, but with a new geographic area to integrate into passage planning and bunkering management.

## Regulatory Reference

MARPOL Annex VI, amendments adopted at MEPC 84 (April-May 2026): designation of the North-East Atlantic as an Emission Control Area for SOx, PM and NOx, in force from 1 September 2027.

## Scope of Application

Every ship navigating or planning to navigate in the North-East Atlantic area designated as an ECA, from 1 September 2027.

## Procedure / How to Complete It

1. Update charts and passage-planning systems with the boundaries of the new North-East Atlantic ECA before the entry-into-force date.
2. Revise fuel changeover planning to cover entry/exit from the new area, in the same way as for existing ECAs.
3. Verify the availability of ECA-compliant fuel (SOx/PM/NOx) at the usual bunkering ports along routes crossing the area.
4. Update onboard procedures and crew training on the new area, including it in the voyage-planning checklist.
5. Verify the compatibility of NOx abatement systems (if fitted) with the new ECA's specific requirements.

## Practical Example

Example: a company with regular North-East Atlantic routes updates, a year ahead of 1 September 2027, its passage-planning procedures and bunkering contracts to ensure the availability of compliant fuel at its usual ports of call along the area.

## Real Cases

Experience with existing ECAs (Baltic, North Sea, North America) shows that ships which postpone updating their fuel changeover planning until just before a new area's entry-into-force date risk finding no compliant fuel available at their usual ports, with significant operational and economic consequences.

## Common Mistakes Mistake Library

Mistake | Consequence | How to avoid it
--- | --- | ---
Updating passage planning and charts postponed until close to the entry-into-force date (1 September 2027) | Risk of navigating in the new ECA without properly planned changeover procedures | Update passage planning, charts and procedures well ahead of the entry-into-force date
Availability of compliant fuel not verified at the usual bunkering ports along the new area | Difficulty sourcing compliant fuel after entry into force | Verify the availability of compliant fuel from usual suppliers along the affected routes well in advance

## PSC Observations

From 1 September 2027, PSCOs will check ships' compliance with SOx/PM/NOx limits during transit through the new North-East Atlantic ECA, using the same methods already applied to existing ECAs (changeover logs, fuel sampling, Bunker Delivery Note).

## Operational Tips

- Do not wait until 2027 to update passage planning and bunkering contracts: compliant fuel availability needs checking well in advance.
- Integrate the new ECA into the voyage-planning checklist alongside existing areas, not as a separate exception to remember.
- If you operate NOx abatement systems, check their compatibility with the new area's specific requirements before entry into force.

## Checklist

- Charts and passage-planning systems updated with the new ECA's boundaries
- Fuel changeover planning revised for entry/exit from the area
- Availability of compliant fuel verified at usual bunkering ports
- Crew trained and voyage checklist updated with the new area
- NOx abatement systems (if fitted) verified for compatibility with the area's requirements

## FAQ

When does the new North-East Atlantic ECA enter into force?
On 1 September 2027, under the amendments to MARPOL Annex VI adopted at MEPC 84 (April-May 2026).
Which emissions does the new ECA cover?
Sulphur oxides (SOx), particulate matter (PM) and nitrogen oxides (NOx), similar to the existing ECAs in the Baltic, North Sea and North America.
What changes in practice for ships transiting the area?
The same procedures already applied in other ECAs: fuel changeover to meet the limits, use of compliant fuel, and PSC verification of compliance during transit.
🎬 Additional photos, videos and interactive diagrams for this topic will be available in a future version of the platform.

## Related Topics

Fuel Oil Changeover (ECA)MARPOL Annex VI

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