Tag: Emission Control Areas (ECA)

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Stepped up enforcement in the North American ECA

UK P&I Club issues Knowledge bulletin The UK P&I Club issued a Knowledge bulletin regarding the stepped up enforcement in the North American ECA.In a new enforcement initiative, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in cooperation with the United States Coast Guard (USCG), has boarded vessels to collect bunker samples to determine whether the vessels fuel sources meet the 1.0% fuel oil sulphur limit applicable within the North American Emissions Control Area (ECA).The EPA also disclosed that it has been experimenting with vessel flyovers to assess vessel smokestack plumes for the same purpose.The EPAs unprecedented action, coming on the heels of its issuance of administrative subpoenas to several large companies operating ships within the North American ECA, announced stepped up efforts to enforce low sulphur fuel requirements within the North American ECA. Until this recent initiative, EPA and USCG officials seemed content to simply monitor compliance efforts by reviewing ECA-related records and documents such as Bunker Delivery Receipts during Port State Control inspections. These joint EPA/USCG initiatives to enforce fuel standards should serve as a warning to Clubs Members operating within the North American ECA. The commercial and legal consequences of a failure to comply with the ECAs fuel ...

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Alternative compliance with air emissions regulations in California

California Air Resources Board issues Marine Notice 2014-1 CaliforniaAir Resources Board issued a Marine Notice regarding the compliance with the California Ocean-Going Vessel Fuel Regulation1 during the Air Resources Board Sunset Review Process as follows:The California Ocean-Going Vessel (OGV) Fuel Regulation includes a sunset provision2 which states that the requirements of the California OGV Fuel Regulation will cease to apply if the United States adopts and enforces requirements that will achieve equivalent emissions reductions to the California OGV Fuel Regulation within Regulated California Waters. The provision further states that the California OGV Fuel Regulation requirements will remain in effect until the Executive Officer issues written findings that the federal requirements will achieve equivalent emission reductions and are being enforced within Regulated California Waters.In accordance with this provision, Air Resources Board (ARB) staff is conducting a sunset review as allowed by the California OGV Fuel Regulation. During ARB staffs sunset review, which is expected to extend beyond January 2015, the California OGV Fuel Regulation will remain in effect and will continue to be enforced. Vessel operators must ensure that they meet both the California OGV Fuel Regulation and the North American Emission Control Area (ECA Regulation) 3 requirements. We do not ...

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Maersk Line supports 2015 ECA sulphur requirements

Protecting environment and ensuring a level playing field for ship operators From 1 January 2015 new legal requirements will come into force in the Emission Control Areas (ECA) in North Europe (Including the Baltic Sea, North Sea and English Channel) and North America (200 nautical miles from American and Canadian shore). This legal requirement will lower the maximum allowed content of sulphur in fuel burned in the ECA's to 0.1% sulphur from todays 1.0%.The 2015 requirements will have significant positive effects on the environmental and health in the regions and Maersk Line fully supports such a development, subject to strict regulatory enforcement to safeguard the environmental benefits and ensure a level playing field for ship operators.ImplicationsThis requirement will have the following effects and implications for society, Maersk Line, and our customers:Environment and Health: Sulphur emissions (SOx) will be reduced by 90% which will have significant positive effects on the environment and on health in general. SOx emissions are toxic and cause respiratory implications as well as acid rain.Maersk Line: Fuel with a sulphur content of 0.1% is significantly more expensive than fuel with 1.0% sulphur content required in ECA areas today. By 2015, Maersk Line expects to purchase 650,000 tonnes ...

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