California ARB Extends Vessel Fleet and Terminal Plans Submittal Deadline

The California Air Resources Board (ARB) is pushing forward the Vessel Fleet and Terminal Plans submittals due date from July 1, 2016, to October 1, 2016. 

Under the The Airborne Toxic Control Measure for Auxiliary Diesel Engines Operated on Ocean-Going Vessels in a California Port (At-Berth Regulation), diesel-powered ships are required to reduce emission by 70 percent while berthing at a California port.

The regulation requires that affected fleet operators submit a plan to ARB identifying the compliance option they will use to reduce at-berth emissions at a port as well as outlining how vessels in the fleet will comply with the requirements of the regulation.

In addition, operators of terminals are also required to provide updated plans to ARB outlining how the terminal will provide the necessary infrastructure for affected fleets to comply with the regulation.

The regulation affects operators of containership and refrigerated cargo ship fleets whose vessels cumulatively make 25 or more visits annually to one affected California port – the Port of Hueneme, the Port of Los Angeles, the Port of Long Beach, the Port of Oakland, the Port of San Diego and the Port of San Francisco. The regulation also affects operators of passenger ship fleets whose vessels cumulatively make five or more visits annually to one of these ports.