The North American Emission Control Area for SOx and particulate matter (ECA-SOx) enters into effect on 1 August, 2012. From this date, the same requirements will apply as for the existing Baltic and North Sea ECA-SOx, including the requirements for recording data on entry and exit.

The North American ECA-SOx covers three distinct areas:

    off the North American Atlantic/Gulf coasts;
    off the North American Pacific coast; and around certain parts of Hawaii.

Infomarine On-Line Technical Library

File	Description	File size
MEPC.1_Circ.723.pdf	INFORMATION ON NORTH AMERICAN EMISSION CONTROL AREA (ECA) UNDER MARPOL ANNEX VI	259 Kb

The United States Coast Guard has announced new ballast water management (BWM) requirements that will probably make mid-ocean ballast water exchange insufficient. Instead, ships will be required to have onboard ballast water management treatment systems that prevent invasive species from being shipped into US waters.

The new USCG Regulations 33 CFR Part 151 and 46 CFR Part 162 will enter into force on 21 June 2012 and apply to all new ships constructed on or after December 2013 as well as to existing ships from 2014 onwards at certain time intervals (see the complete implementation schedule in the table below).

The USCG is amending its ballast water management regulations by establishing a standard for the allowable concentration of living organisms in ships’ ballast water discharged in US waters. The USCG is also amending its engineering equipment regulations by establishing an approval process for ballast water management systems.

Infomarine On-Line Technical Library

File	Description	File size
DNV_Technical_eNewsletter_new_US_ballast_water_requirements_April202012.pdf	DNV Technical New US ballast water requirements April- 20-2012.pdf	387 Kb