Emissions requirements hit Calif. ports

   Wednesday begins the transition period set by the Air Resources Board for vessel fleets to comply with a new 2014 measure regulating emissions, and most vessel fleets have made the necessary investments in equipment and practices in order to comply, according to an ARB regulatory advisory released Dec. 23.
   The transition period for the measure — called the Airborne Toxic Control Measure for Auxiliary Diesel Engines Operated on Ocean-Going Vessels At-Berth in a California Port — is Jan. 1 through June 30, which gives fleets this time period to implement new practices.
   The ARB said fleets must comply with two criteria, on a quarterly basis, starting Wednesday. The first is that at least half of a fleet’s visits to a port must follow engine limitations that call for auxiliary engines on the vessel to not operate for more than three to five hours (based on the type of power transfer) during the entire time the vessel is at-birth. Secondly, the fleet’s total onboard auxiliary engine power generation must be cut in half from its baseline power generation.
   ARB said terminals and ports that do not make shore power available by Wednesday may be penalized.
   ARB used its advisory to address specific situations that it said may affect a fleet’s ability to be in compliance with the new regulation. 
   “While the Jan. 1, 2014, compliance date remains unchanged, ARB will recognize a fleet’s good faith efforts to comply with the requirements during a transition period,” the advisory said. It also said a vessel may use relief it qualifies for based on its staff’s determination of evidence proving a good faith effort to comply. The situations to be considered are:

• The vessel fleet is equipped to receive shore power, but the terminal’s berth is not ready to provide it.
• During 2014, a vessel makes its first commissioning visit to a terminal, and during the visit, the auxiliary engines operate longer than three hours.
• During the first and second quarters, a vessel uses shore power but fails to meet the three-to-five-hour time limit for connecting or disconnecting shore power.
• During the first half of the year, a vessel is unable to use shore power due to delays in receiving shore power equipment and making retrofits to the vessel.
• During the first half of the year, vessels are using an alternative technology to help comply with the regulation.

   To qualify for relief from specific requirements called for in the regulation, a vessel fleet operator must report information to ARB. Information for submission will be available Jan. 10 on ARB’s website.