MSC and CMA CGM introduce Mediterranean ECA sulphur surcharge | Container news

Container shipping giants have notified customers of a new low sulfur surcharge for all shipments transiting through the Mediterranean ECA zone.

Starting from May 1, 2025, the Mediterranean Sea will be designated as an Emission Control Area (ECA) implementing stricter controls to limit sulfur emissions from ships operating in this zone.

This important development mandates that vessels operating in the Mediterranean Sea use fuel with a sulphur content not exceeding 0.10%.

To comply with the new requirement, CMA CGM will introduce a low sulfur surcharge for all shipments transiting through the Mediterranean ECA zone. “This surcharge covers the additional costs associated with using lower sulfur fuels and adopting other measures to meet the stringent environmental standards,” it said in its customer advisory.

Meanwhile, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) will apply an ECA surcharge to all cargo from Asia to Mediterranean (including West Med, East Med, Adriatic and North Africa) and Black Sea.

As a result of the Mediterranean Sea designation by the IMO as an ECA zone there will be higher operating costs to comply with the requirement to use fuels with limited sulphur content.

Maersk is also increasing the Fossil Fuel Fee (FFF) on impacted trades starting from May 1, 2025, it said in an advisory last month.

“The recovery of 0.10% sulphur fuel is already integrated into our existing Fossil Fuel Fee (FFF) calculation methodology. To comply with this new regulation, the cost of compliance will be recovered through an increase in the FFF on impacted trades starting from May 1, 2025,” Maersk highlighted in its customer advisory.