USCG Policy Letter & Job Aid on North American ECA

USCG Policy Letter & Job Aid on North American ECA

The United States Coast Guard (USCG) issued a Policy Letter providing guidelines for compliance and enforcement of the North American Emissions Control Area (ECA) that comes into effect on 1 August. It outlines the USCG's methods and procedures for verifying compliance with MARPOL Annex VI Regulation 14 (sulfur oxides and particular matter), Regulation 18 (fuel oil availability and quality) and how violations identified by the USCG are documented and referred to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for enforcement. USCG also posted its ECA Job Aid, which provides USCG officers with guidance on conducting onboard inspections for compliance with the requirements of the North American ECA.