Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems

Annex VI of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL Annex VI) allows ships to use exhaust gas cleaning systems (EGCS) to comply with the 0.50 per cent m/m sulphur fuel oil limit that commenced on 1 January 2020

The use of exhaust gas cleaning systems (EGCS) in Australian waters

As a party to MARPOL Annex VI, Australia permits the use of EGCS to comply with the low sulphur fuel oil limit.

Ships can use an EGCS in Australian waters to comply with the sulphur limit that is:

Note: Unless significantly modified on or after 1 June 2022, EGCS approved under previous versions of the IMO’s EGCS Guidelines do not need to be approved again.

Disposing of wash water and residues from EGCS

EGCS discharge water must follow the discharge water quality criteria in the Guidelines.

Note: There are no prohibitions on the release of discharge water from EGCS in Australian waters. This includes waters within Australia’s Particularly Sensitive Sea Area (PSSA) and the MARPOL ‘nearest land’ boundary, which encompasses the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. However, some port Authorities may encourage vessels to avoid discharging wash water within port limits.

Ships must deliver residues and sludge generated by EGCSs ashore to reception facilities. Ships are not permitted to:

  • discharge EGCS residues or sludge anywhere at sea
  • incinerate EGCS residues and sludge on board.

You can find Australian ports offering facilities for the reception of EGCS residues in the IMO’s Global Integrated Shipping Information System (GISIS).

We may prohibit the use of EGCS in Australian waters if found to not be compliant with IMO guidelines. This includes the discharge water discharge criteria.

Learn more about requirements for the use of an EGCS in Australian waters in Marine notice 12/2022

Last updated: 1 August 2025