EMEA News
Singapore Owner Fined $130,000 for Violating Fuel Switching Regs
The California Air Resources Board (ARB), Friday announced it has fined Singapore-based China Navigation Co. Pte. Ltd. (CNCo) $129,500 for failing to comply with the state's low-sulfur fuel switching regulations.
The incident dates back to 2012 when an ARB inspector found that the vessel Chenan, managed by CNCo, operated within Regulated California Waters (24 miles or less from the coast) on non-compliant heavy fuel oil on twelve separate days.
The vessel was said to have made four separate voyages between August 5 and December 28, 2012, en route to, and departing from, the Port of Los Angeles.
"Ships using heavy diesel fuels are a significant contributor to California's air quality problems, even in communities located far from our coast. That's why we check vessels nearly every day to ensure that they are compliant with our strict clean air laws," said Todd Sax, Enforcement Division Chief, ARB.
"When we identify a violation, we educate the fleet owner and crew on how to comply with our requirements, and we assess penalties as a deterrent to future noncompliance," he said.
CNCo was said to have taken prompt action after being notified of the violations and cooperated with the investigation.
The release also noted that, in addition to paying a fine, the company agreed to comply with fuel switch-over requirements and to keep accurate records.
ARB says it conducts 800 to 1,000 ship inspections each year, checking for proper fuel usage, record-keeping, and other compliance requirements.
In November of 2015 Ship & Bunker reported that the ARB had found a "vast majority" of vessels using ULSFO bunkers tested above the 0.1% limit.
