The California Air Resources Board (CARB) on 18 October received authorization for its 2020 At-Berth Regulation, which further reduces pollution from ocean-going vessels while docked at California’s busiest ports.
The new regulation was passed by the CARB Board in 2020 and adds new vessel categories – auto carriers and tankers – as well as additional ports and marine terminals. Under new regulation, vessels are required to control pollution when they run auxiliary engines or auxiliary boilers (for most tanker vessels) while docked.
As explained, initially the At-Berth Regulation affected the following three vessel categories: container ships, passenger ships, and refrigerated-cargo ships at six California ports: Los Angeles, Long Beach, Oakland, San Diego, San Francisco, and Hueneme.
The two vessel categories added to the new regulation produce 56% of all fine particulate pollution (PM 2.5) from ocean-going vessels at berth in California ports, which when inhaled can embed in people’s lungs and bloodstreams, causing health impacts such as premature mortality, increased hospitalizations for heart and lung illness and asthma attacks.
| Compliance start date | Vessel type |
|---|---|
| January 1, 2023 | Container, reefer, cruise vessels (for visits to all regulated terminals) |
| January 1, 2025 | Roll-on-roll-off vessels (for visits to all regulated terminals) |
| Tanker vessels (for visits to regulated terminals at Port of Los Angeles or Port of Long Beach) | |
| January 1, 2027 | Tanker vessels (for visits to all regulated terminals) |
Key points for vessel operators
As a result of the changes to the regulation, Gard P&I Club has issued guidance for interested parties. Key points of the regulation, as presented by Gard, include:
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All vessels visiting a California port are subject to requirements of the 2020 At Berth Regulation.
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Only container, reefer, passenger, ro/ro and tanker vessels are subject to emission control requirements. However, vessel types such as bulk and general cargo vessels must comply with other relevant obligations under the regulation, including opacity, or blackness of smoke, and visit reporting requirements.
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Low activity terminals are exempted from the emission control requirements. However, if a low activity terminal receives 20 or more visits per year from a regulated vessel type, for two consecutive calendar years, that terminal no longer qualifies for the low activity exemption for that vessel type and visiting vessels will be required to reduce emissions starting 1 January the following year.
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Vessels subject to emission control requirements must use a ‘CARB approved emission control strategy’ (CAECS) to control emissions for the duration of a visit. At the time of writing, compliance will most likely be achieved by the use of shore power and/or emissions capture and control systems. However, if a vessel wishes to use a strategy for compliance that is currently not approved for use, such as batteries or alternative fuels, they must apply for CARB approval of that strategy as a CAESC.
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Vessel operators must communicate with terminal operators in writing at least seven days before arrival to coordinate shore power and other CAECS needs. While ABS’ guide to terminal-supplied CAECS is a useful resource for planning ahead, a check with the local agent as to availability of CAECS at a specific port for the estimated visiting time can be recommended.
Be prepared
As the procedures and equipment needed for ro/ro and tanker vessels to comply with CARB’s emission control requirements could be quite extensive and costly, Gard advises ship operators trading to California ports to familiarise themselves with the 2020 At Berth Regulation and the control strategies currently approved by CARB.
