California Adopts Strict Vessel Pollution Laws

Sacramento, CA (AHN) - The California Air Resources Board on Thursday approved strict benchmarks on vessels docking in the state's seaports.

The board requires all ships traveling within 28 miles of California shores to replace the heavy fuel oil they traditionally use with products that have lower sulfur content. The legislation would affect 2,000 vessels that call on the state's seaports annually.

Mary Nichols, board chairwoman told the San Francisco Chronicle, "This regulation will save lives. At ports and all along the California coast, we will see cleaner air and better health."

The Pacific Merchant Shipping Association (PMSA), which represents 60 ocean-going carriers and terminal operators, plans to fight the new law. The association wants a voluntary approach to the emission requirements. It had blocked previous California attempts to regulate ship discharges and challenged the state's jurisdiction beyond three miles from shore.

T.L. Garrett, PMSA vice president, said the association does not oppose the fuel and emission law changes, but believes the International Maritime Organization, not the state should implement emission regulations.

The newly passed law, slated to take effect July 2009, requires the gradual lowering of the sulfur content of vessel fuel. By 2012, ships' particulate matter must be down by 83 percent, sulfur oxides by 95 percent and nitrogen oxides by 6 percent. Violators would be fined from $44,500 to $225,000.

Ship operators would pay $30,000 more to switch to cleaner fuel each time it visits California. To cover this extra cost, passengers may need to shell $15 more on cruise ships that dock from Los Angeles to Mexico.