Long Beach port officials praise cleaner fuel rules

Long Beach port officials praise cleaner fuel rules Port of Long Beach officials last week praised a new California rule on cleaner-burning ship fuel, which takes effect on Jan. 1.
   The new regulation, adopted by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) in 2005, requires large ocean-going vessels, including container and cruise ships, to use low-sulfur fuels in their auxiliary engines within 24 nautical miles of the California coastline. The regulation will reduce emissions of harmful diesel particulate matter (PM), smog-forming nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulfur oxide (SOx).
   'This is a significant step forward for cleaner air,' said Long Beach Harbor Commission President James Hankla. 'To achieve greater emissions reductions we count on our state partners, such as CARB, to set and enforce standards. We applaud CARB for taking this crucial step.'
   According to CARB, the regulations will bring about immediate emissions reductions from ships' auxiliary engines. About 75 percent of ocean-going vessels now use a dirtier grade of diesel fuel in their auxiliary engines. From those ships' auxiliary engines, the new regulations will result in a 75 percent reduction in PM, 80 percent reduction in SOx, and 6 percent reduction in NOx, according to CARB.
   Under the new regulations, ships must use fuels with a sulfur content at or below 0.5 percent. By Jan. 1, 2010, the maximum allowable sulfur content will be 0.1 percent. Vessel operators must maintain meticulous records and will be subject to state fines for non-compliance.