Air
Pollution
Following lengthy discussions the
EU finally published its Directive amending
Directive 1999/32/EEC.
Directive
2005/33/EC largely mirrors MARPOL Annex VI, although the
dates for implementation do not correlate exactly with those of Annex VI.
There is a provision for the further reduction of sulphur content of marine
fuels for vessels at berth in EU ports, the entry into force date being
2010, with the maximum sulphur content from that date being 0.1%.
Implementation dates, compared with those of MARPOL are as follows:
19 May 2006 Entry into force of Baltic Sea SOx Emission
Control Area (SECA) under IMO (1.5% limit)
11 August 2006 Baltic Sea SECA enforceable by EU member states
11 August 2007 North Sea SECA enforceable by EU member states
(1.5%) limit)
21 November 2007 North Sea SECA enters into force under IMO
01 January 2010 0.1% limit for vessels at berth in EU ports comes
into force