DNV has expanded emissions regulations to reduce emissions from oceangoing vessels while in Californian ports.
The 2020 California Air Resources Board (CARB) At-Berth Regulation will require tanker and Ro-Ro vessels to use a CARB Approved Emission Control Strategy (CAECS) while at berth in California ports starting from 1 January 2025.
Classification society DNV has released details on the forthcoming next phase of the regulation.
The 2020 At-Berth Regulation requires all oceangoing vessel operators and terminal operators to report each visit made to any California marine terminal. However, only container, refrigerated cargo and cruise vessels have emissions control requirements.
Starting from 1 January 2025, compliance with emissions control requirements shall apply to:
- Tanker vessels visiting terminals in the Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach.
- Ro-Ro vessels (including vehicle carriers) visiting any California terminal.
Bulk and general cargo vessels do not have emissions control requirements, but they do have visit reporting requirements that began 1 January 2023. The 2020 regulation took effect on 1 January 2021.
The next phase of the regulation will take effect on 1 January 2027 when emissions control requirements will apply to tanker vessels visiting any California terminal.
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Regulated emissions are nitrogen oxide (NOx), particulate matter 2.5 (PM 2.5) and reactive organic gases (ROG). The primary regulated parties are the vessel operators, terminal operators, California ports and CAECS operators.
Vessels and other regulated parties have the following options for compliance:
- Connection to onshore power (OPS) while at berth.
- Use of a CARB-approved exhaust capture and control system. There are currently two companies (STAX Engineering and Clean Air Engineering Maritime) with plans to have an approved barge-based exhaust capture solution for tankers available by 1 January 2025.
- Payment into a Remediation Fund. The payment into the fund cannot be triggered solely from lack of available alternative CAECS (a vessel needs to show eligibility and get approval).
- Alternative fuels (e.g. LNG), with the need to provide testing data that emission rates meet the 2020 At-Berth Regulation performance standard.
- An innovative concept solution that achieves equivalent emissions reduction from other sources around the port.
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CARB has an Enforcement Penalty Policy and will investigate any potential violation. If a company is deemed to be in non-compliance, a Notice of Violation may be issued.
A financial penalty could be the result after each violation. The penalty for non-compliance can be imposed on all regulated parties, including the vessel operators.
