Americas News
California Fuel Switching Regulation Still in Force Next Year
With new Emissions Control Area (ECA) rules set to come into force tomorrow, Ship & Bunker today reminds vessel operators that the California Ocean-going Vessel (OGV) Fuel Regulation will still be in force requiring the use of 0.10 percent sulfur distillate fuel within 24 nautical miles (nm) of the state's coast.
As the Sunset Review of the California regulation is expected to be completed by April 2015, from January 1, 2015 operators will need to comply with both regulations when in California waters unless an exception is applied for and granted ahead of time.
Both regulations require the use of marine fuel with a sulfur content not exceeding 0.10 percent, however unlike the ECA regulation, the California OGV Fuel Regulation is specifically a distillate fuel switching requirement and does not have wording to allow for equivalent methods of compliance such as the use of scrubbers.
The wording of the California OGV Fuel Regulation also does not permit the use of so-called hybrid fuels that meet the 0.10 percent sulfur limit but do not meet the specification for marine gas oil (MGO) or marine diesel oil (MDO).
However, discussing the matter earlier in the year, California's Air Resources Board (ARB) told Ship & Bunker it is accommodating ECA compliant options through a "Temporary Experimental and Research Exemption" that can be granted to operators who notify ARB prior to entering California regulated waters.
The exception will allow compliance options including the use of scrubbers and 0.10% sulfur fuels that do not meet the specification for MGO and MDO.
Full information on the Sunset Review and requirements for notifying ARB for an Exemption can be found here:
http://www.arb.ca.gov/ports/marinevess/documents/marinenote_2014_1.pdf
