Baltic Sea SECA

The Baltic Sea became a Sulphur Oxide Emission Control Area (SECA) as from 19 May 2006. Ships entering the Baltic Sea are now required only to use marine fuels with a sulphur content not exceeding 1.5% m/m. Alternatively, an exhaust gas cleaning system capable of reducing SOx emissions to 6.0 g/kWh and below may be used.

Ships failing to comply with Regulation 14 of MARPOL Annex VI while operating inside the SECA will be detained. The ship shall ensure that proper fuel documentation is used as required under Regulation 14(6), including but not limited to documentation of fuel change-over procedures and execution, as well as documentation of the fuel quality.

Sulphur level is taken to be as per the bunker delivery note.

In case a ship that would operate in the Baltic Sea does not receive the required fuel or the proper documentation and/or the MARPOL Annex VI compliant fuel sample, the ship should immediately issue a notification to its Flag Administration with a copy to the port authority from where the bunker fuel was purchased. One copy should be kept onboard for possible control by port state control officers at the port of call in the Baltic Sea.