New Emission Control Areas Introduced in Canadian Arctic and Norwegian Sea to Reduce Shipping Pollution
As of 1 March 2026, the Canadian Arctic and the Norwegian Sea officially became Emission Control Areas (ECAs) under MARPOL Annex VI, introducing stricter limits on sulphur oxide (SOx), nitrogen oxide (NOx), and particulate matter (PM) emissions from ships. These new regulations aim to significantly reduce air pollution from maritime traffic in sensitive Arctic and Northern European waters.
The designation of these areas was approved through IMO Resolution MEPC.392(82) during MEPC 82 in October 2024. Within these new ECAs, the maximum sulphur content in fuel oil for ships is limited to 0.10%, a reduction that will help decrease harmful emissions from shipping operations.
Reducing SOx and NOx emissions in these regions has major environmental and health benefits. Cleaner air helps lower the incidence of lung cancer, cardiovascular diseases, strokes, and childhood asthma. Additionally, reduced acidification protects crops, forests, and aquatic life, while less haze improves visibility, decreasing the risk of maritime accidents.
The Canadian Arctic ECA expands the existing North American ECA to cover all Canadian Arctic waters. Meanwhile, the Norwegian Sea ECA extends the North Sea ECA to include the Norwegian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), fjords, coastal waters, and areas reaching the Russian border.
These two new ECAs bring the total number of Emission Control Areas under MARPOL Annex VI to seven, joining the Mediterranean Sea, Baltic Sea, North Sea, North American ECA, and the United States Caribbean Sea ECA. In addition, the North-East Atlantic ECA proposal, approved at MEPC 83 in April 2025, is expected to be officially designated at MEPC 84 in April 2026.
Since 1 January 2020, stricter sulphur limits in fuel oil outside ECAs have already resulted in a 70% reduction in total SOx emissions, demonstrating the effectiveness of global shipping emission regulations. The extension of ECAs to the Canadian Arctic and Norwegian Sea marks another milestone in sustainable shipping practices and international efforts to protect the environment and public health.
Source: International Maritime Organization (IMO)
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