Steamships exempted from ECA
Older steamships in the Unites States are likely to be exempted from the 2015 sulphur limits in the North American Emission Control Areas (ECAs). Due to their age, there is a lack of technical and design support with regard to both fuel switching procedures and actually operating the boiler on marine distillate fuel, according to the US proposal to the 61st session of the IMO's Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC). The exemption will be time limited to five years (expiring in 2020) and apply only to the North American ECA, as well as to the proposed Caribbean ECA if it is approved. The US proposal will now go forward to MEPC 62 with a view to formal adoption in July 2011.
Source: Sustainable Shipping News, 4 October 2010