Marine Notice 2011-1
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has issued a notice to vessel owners and operators regarding the status of proposed amendments to the Ocean-Going Vessel Air Emission Regulation.
On 1 September 2011, an advisory (Marine Notice 2011-1) was issued regarding the amendments but due to the administrative process, they were not able to provide an exact date for their implementation. On September 16, CARB filed the final rule-making package with the Office of Administrative Law (OAL), which now has until October 28 to make its determination.
Since CARB requested an “effective early date”, they expect the legally effective date for the amendments to be between 28 October and 27 November. To provide owners and operators with sufficient lead time in which to implement the amendments, CARB will begin enforcement of the amendments on 1 December.
The amendments include the following:
- expand the regulatory boundary in Southern California
- delay implementation of the “Phase II” 0.1% sulphur fuel until 1 January 2014
- limit marine gas oil to 1% sulphur starting on 1 August 2012
- make minor amendments to Non-compliance Fee Provision
- update the definitions of compliant distillate fuels and the California baseline.
Additional information on the amendments can be found in Marine Notice 2011-1 which is available here.
Other information for marine vessel programmes is available on the CARB website.
Source : California Air Resources Board (CARB)
