Want tough rules on pollution prevention
A proposal will be submitted to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) meeting next month on the establishment of a pollution control area for ships in Iceland’s jurisdiction as well as seven other states.
If the proposal is approved, tougher pollution control rules will take effect in the area by 2027.
This is stated in announcement from the Ministry of the Environment, Energy and Climate.
Areas with tougher rules are found widely
It states that IMO can define marine areas where stricter rules apply to pollution prevention than is generally the case in international voyages and that such areas (Emission Control Areas, ECA) now reach the North Sea, the Baltic Sea, the Middle East as well as the jurisdictions of Norway, Canada.
The areas need to be approved within the IMO where states do not have the general power to impose pollution control rules in jurisdiction outside their own territorial waters or international navigation routes.
The pollution control area (Atleca) would cover the jurisdiction of Greenland, the Faroe Islands, the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Spain and Portugal, as well as Iceland.
Here you can see the pollution control area proposed to be created. The purple and green areas show an area where tougher pollution control applies.
Map/Cabinet
Only cover new larger ships
If the proposal is approved, tightened pollution control rules will take effect in the area by 2027.
However, the rules will not cover ships that are already in operation, but only to new larger vessels that entered the fleet in 2027 or later.
« Black oil has greatly reduced the use of Icelandic vessels in recent years, and thus also air pollution caused by soot and sulfur compounds. Tightened the requirements for pollution caused by nitrogen compounds call for the use of catalytic cable or other measures in new vessels coming in 2027 and later, » says.
