Ships travelling through Maltese waters to switch to cleaner fuels

All ships sailing through the Mediterranean will be obliged to switch to cleaner fuels from May 1, 2025.  
The change is designed to improve air quality for the 150 million people living in the region and combat climate change.   
Air pollution caused by shipping can represent up to 40 per cent of all Mediterranean coastal cities’ total air pollution. 
On Friday, the UN’s International Maritime Organization (IMO) formally designated the Mediterranean Sea a Sulphur Emission Control Area (SECA), a move requiring ships sailing in the region to switch to lower sulphur content fuels.  

Covering more than 1.5 million square kilometres, the Mediterranean Sea is one of the busiest water bodies in the world, with Malta intersecting the most used routes.  
The IMO is a United Nations agency responsible for the safety and security of shipping and for preventing sea and air pollution by ships. It has 175 Member States, including Malta. 
Mediterranean Sea traffic density using data collected by the IMO.
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