Sulfur Marine Distillate Oil News

Application forms for fleet emission credits (FEC) as well as a status of the terminal plan submittals are now available on ARB’s Shore Power website. FEC are only applicable toward compliance with the At-Berth Regulation where fleet operators have chosen the Equivalent Emission Reduction Option—fleets that have chosen the Reduced Onboard Power Generation Option cannot apply for or use FEC. These forms are applicable to two types of emission reductions: 1) Use of either low sulfur marine gas oil or low sulfur marine distillate oil in auxiliary engines while the ship is docked at a California port prior to January 1, 2007; and 2) use of grid-based shore power at a California port prior to January 1, 2010.

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) issued a notice stating that it will discontinue enforcement of the Ocean-Going Vessel Auxiliary Diesel Engine Regulation.  This action has been taken (somewhat belatedly) after the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit declined to rehear its earlier decision holding that the regulation was preempted under the federal Clean Air Act.  The CARB will now submit a request for authorization from the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to enforce the regulation.  In the meantime, the CARB encourages ship operators to use 0.5% sulfur marine distillate oil (MDO) or marine gas oil (MGO) when within 24 nautical miles of California.   Source:  HK Law