Paul Milkey News

The California Air Resources Board staff has issued an advisory (Marine Notice 2012-1) regarding upcoming changes in the vessel fuel sulfur requirements beginning August 1, 2012. The advisory also reminds operators that they must comply with both the California Ocean-Going Vessel Fuel Regulation and the North American Emission Control Area requirements. The California Ocean-Going Vessel Fuel Regulation provides significant air quality benefits by requiring vessels to use cleaner, low sulfur distillate fuel when visiting California ports. If you have any questions, please contact Bonnie Soriano at (916) 327-6888, or by email at bsoriano@arb.ca.gov; or Paul Milkey at (916) 327-2957, or by email at pmilkey@arb.ca.gov.

The California Maritime Academy (CMA) was contracted to evaluate issues associated with the implementation of the California Air Resources Board (ARB) ship fuel regulation. While most vessel operators are successfully complying with the regulation without incident, some operators have reported operational difficulties that may be related to fuel switching from heavy fuel oil to distillate fuel. The Ocean-Going Vessel Clean Fuel Regulation provides significant air quality benefits by requiring vessels to use cleaner, low sulfur distillate fuel when visiting California ports. If you have any questions, please contact Bonnie Soriano at (916) 327-6888, or by email at bsoriano@arb.ca.gov; or Paul Milkey at (916) 327-2957, or by email at pmilkey@arb.ca.gov.