As from 1st August 2012 the North American Emission Control Area (ECA) will come into effect. Under this new regulation, all ships sailing within 200 nautical miles of the North American coastline, including Canada, will be required to use fuel oil with a maximum sulphur content of 1% and 0.10% m/m on and after 1 January 2015. Ships constructed on or after 1 January 2016 shall comply with the NOx emission limits specified in regulation 13.5.1.1 of MARPOL Annex VI, when operating within the North American ECA.

 The North American ECA covers three distinct areas:

1. Off the North American Atlantic/Gulf Coasts;

2. Off the North American Pacific coast; and

3. Around certain parts of Hawaii.

 It also includes the St. Lawrence Seaway, the Great Lakes and rivers (such as Mississippi) which are accessed by international shipping. The new appendix VII to MARPOL Annex VI contains the definition and boundaries with full coordinates of the North American ECA. Diagrams showing geographical distribution of the North American ECA are set out in IMO MPEC 723 and the full list of coordinates may be found in the new Appendix VII to MARPOL Annex VI ( reference MARPOL Annex VI, Appendix VII).

 The lower emission standards are already in effect from 1 July 2010, for existing Baltic Sea and North Sea ECAs, including the requirements for recording data on entry and exit.

 From 1st August 2012, Transport Canada’s Port State Control Officers will check ships’ compliance with ECA requirements including:

— The ship’s bunker delivery receipt to verify the sulphur content of fuel oil supplied

— The Material Safety Data Sheet of the fuel oil on board

— The ship’s record of fuel oil changeover procedures prior to entering into ECA areas

— The record of shipboard incinerator usage.

In cases where a vessel cannot comply with ECA requirements due to non-availability of low sulphur fuel oil during voyage, owners must show proof that an attempt had been made to obtain low-sulphur fuel oil.

Port State Control will consider on a case-by-case basis if a penalty will be imposed for non-compliance.

Ships are required to have the following certificates/documents on board:

1. International Air Pollution Prevention (IAPP) certificate

2. Engine International Air Pollution Prevention (EIAPP) certificate

3. Technical file of each applicable marine diesel engine

4. Record book of engine parameters for each marine diesel engine

5. Written procedures covering fuel oil change oil operations.