Studies assessing the costs and benefits of an emission control area in the Mediterranean presented at the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 73) – Oct 22, 2018

REMPEC and France presented, in the margins of MEPC 73, the progress and outcomes of their respective independent studies assessing the costs and benefits of an emission control area in the Mediterranean which generated considerable interest and questions about the methodology and assumptions used in the studies from IMO Member States and NGOs.

REMPEC’s study has been sent to the SOx ECA(s) Technical Committee of Experts composed of representatives from (20) twenty Mediterranean countries and the European Union (EU), i.e. the Barcelona Convention Contracting Parties, for their review. Their comments will be discussed during a regional workshop on MARPOL Annex VI which will take place in Valletta, Malta from 11 to 13 December 2018.

All interested parties were invited to contribute to this process and will be kept informed about the next steps towards possible designation of the Mediterranean Sea, or parts thereof, as an emission control area.