New emission control areas for ships: Canadian Arctic waters and the Norwegian Sea — MARPOL amendments published in Poland’s Journal of Laws
Poland’s Journal of Laws of 2 September 2026 published the amendments to MARPOL Annex VI adopted in London on 4 October 2024. According to IMO, Resolution MEPC.392(82) designates new Emission Control Areas (ECAs) for nitrogen oxides, sulphur oxides and particulate matter: Canadian Arctic Waters and the Norwegian Sea.
- According to the government statement, the amendments entered into force for all parties, including Poland, on 1 March 2026; the Polish Council of Ministers approved them on 3 February 2026.
- IMO describes ECAs as areas where special mandatory measures are required to prevent, reduce and control air pollution from NOx, SOx and particulate matter from ships and their adverse impacts on human health and the environment.
- IMO notes that since 1 January 2020 the global limit on sulphur in ships’ fuel oil has been 0.50 % (previously 3.5 %); in 2023 only two reports of ships using fuel exceeding this limit (FONAR reports) were submitted to its GISIS platform, out of 67 reported since January 2020.
- The Polish translation of the amendments was published as Journal of Laws 2026 item 1165, and the government statement listing the parties as item 1166.