With 2027 now less than two years away, we wanted to make sure everyone in our network, builders, dealers, and vessel owners alike, is fully across the forthcoming changes to emissions standards for vessels operating in UK waters. These are significant changes that will have a real and direct impact on the UK fleet, creating a continuous ECA (emission control area) coving all coastal waters (within the EEZ) around the UK.
Here is what you need to know, and how Watermota can help you prepare.
What is Changing, and When?
From January 2027, all UK coastal waters will be designated as Emission Control Areas as part of the North East Atlantic ECA. This is a substantial shift, and it means that IMO Tier III–compliant engines will be required in the following circumstances:
- All newbuild vessels — contracted on or after January 2027
- Vessel repowers — from Match 2027, where the engine power exceeds 130 kW
These rules are not simply a paperwork exercise. IMO Tier III compliance requires engines fitted with Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) aftertreatment systems, which have implications for vessel design, engine room layout, and space planning, particularly on repower projects where the existing engine room was never designed with these systems in mind.
If you are planning a newbuild or a repower, and the project will be delivered or completed from 2027 onwards, now is the time to be having these conversations.
What This Means in Practice
For newbuild projects, Tier III compliance should be built into the vessel design from the outset. SCR systems require space for the catalyst unit, a DEF (diesel exhaust fluid) tank, associated pipework and sensors, and correct exhaust routing. Getting this right is straightforward when it is designed in from the start; retrofitting around an existing layout is considerably more challenging.
For repowers, the critical questions are:
- Is the replacement engine an identical like-for-like unit? If so, exemptions may be applied.
- Does the engine exceed 130 kW? If yes, and it is not like-for-like, Tier III compliance is required from March 2027.
- Does the existing engine room have sufficient space for an SCR system and DEF tank?
We strongly recommend that anyone considering a repower in the next 12–18 months speaks to us early in the process. Our engineering team can advise on what is required and help you plan accordingly.
Watermota’s Tier III Track Record
We have been supplying IMO Tier III–compliant solutions for over five years, with multiple proven installations currently operating in UK commercial service. This is not new territory for us.
Our Tier III packages are built around HD Hyundai electronic engines, paired with D-I Industrial (Dong-I) gearboxes, Flexball throttle controls, and fully integrated SCR aftertreatment systems, all with RINA certification. The SCR system and DEF tank are included as part of the installation kit, making the specification process as easy and straightforward as possible.
Hyundai engines are increasingly setting the benchmark across key technical criteria for newbuild vessels, and our Tier III range spans 130–908 kW. We are confident we will not be beaten on a like-for-like Tier III package price.
We can also support these conversations with real-world commercial marine case studies, installations with engines exceeding 20,000 operating hours in UK commercial operation. These are proven, working solutions, not theoretical specifications.
How We Are Preparing
We are already taking steps to make sure our customers are as well-supported as possible through this transition:
- Stocking more IMO Tier III engines to meet the anticipated increase in demand
- Increasing parts stock for older engines — for owners who decide to rebuild rather than repower, we want to make sure those parts are available
- Compiling detailed case studies of working Tier III installations that dealers can share with their customers
A big thank you to all the dealers who have been involved in our Tier III projects to date, your feedback and experience in the field has been invaluable in helping us build out this capability.
Useful Reference
For those who would like to read the detailed regulatory background, DNV have published a thorough article referencing the exact MARPOL legislation:
New ECAs for the Canadian Arctic, Norwegian Sea and North-East Atlantic Ocean — DNV
Talk to Us
We are happy to walk any operator, builder, or dealer through the new requirements and what a Hyundai Tier III solution looks like in practice. Give us a call at a time that suits you, the conversation is always without obligation, and the sooner you start planning, the smoother the process will be.
