New Israeli sulfur regulation will become effective as of February 2023 in order to lower air pollution from ships.

Citing Israeli insurer Harpaz P&I, marine insurance company North P&I writes that vessels as of Feb. 23 are not allowed to have more than 0.1 percent of sulfur in their fuel unless scrubbers are installed on board to cleanse the smoke.

Similar demands have already been implemented in so-called SECA zones in Northern Europe and North America.

At the latest climate committee in the UN’s maritime organization, the IMO, it was furthermore decided that the Mediterranean Sea will be made into an environmental zone, entailing restrictions on sulfur contents.

It remains unclear when the new Mediterranean demands will enter force, but it’ll be in either 2024 or 2025.

English edit: Kristoffer Grønbæk

Countries commit to new sulfur regulation in the Mediterranean Sea

IMO sulfur limits have added costs of USD 27bn in three years