Special areas means sea area where for recognized technical reasons in relation to its oceanographical and ecological condition and to the particular character of its traffic the adoption of special mandatory methods for the prevention of sea pollution by oil/NLS/garbage is required.

Annex VI Regulations for the Prevention of Air Pollution from Ships establishes certain sulphur oxide (SOx) Emission Control Areas with more stringent controls on sulphur emissions and nitrogen oxides (NOx) Emission Control Areas for Tier III NOx emission standards.

For the purpose of Annexe 1, following are the special areas:

1. The Mediterranean sea area
2. The Baltic sea area
3. The Black sea area
4. The Red sea area
5. The Gulf area
6. The Gulf of Aden area
7. The Antarctic Area
8. The North-West European Waters
9. Oman area of the Arabian Sea
10. Southern South African Water

For the purpose of Annexe 2, following are the special areas:

1. The Antarctic Sea Area

For the purpose of Annexe 4, following are the special areas:

1. The Baltic Sea

For the purpose of Annexe 5, following are the special areas:

1. The Mediterranean sea area
2. The Baltic sea area
3. The Black sea area
4. The Red sea area
5. The Gulf area
6. The North Sea area
7. The Antarctic Area (south of latitude 60 degrees south)
8. The Wider Caribbean Region including the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea

For the purpose of Annexe 6, following are the special areas:

1. Baltic Sea (SO_x, NO_x)
2. North Sea (SO_x, NO_x)
3. North American ECA
   (NO_x, SO_x and PM)
4. United States
   Caribbean Sea ECA
   (NO_x, SO_x and PM)