California has approved a new regulation designed to further reduce pollution from ocean-going vessels while docked at the state’s busiest ports. The updated rule adds new vessel categories which will be required to control pollution when they run auxiliary engines or auxiliary boilers while docked. Vessels covered under the existing regulation include container ships, reefers and cruise ships. The updated regulation adds auto carriers and tankers, two categories that produce 56 percent of all fine particulate pollution from ocean-going vessels at berth in California ports. Once fully implemented, the updated regulation is expected to deliver a 90 percent reduction in pollution from an expected additional 2,300 vessel visits per year. The updated regulation starts in 2023 for most vessels, with auto carriers needing to comply starting in 2025. Tankers docking at the Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach must also comply starting in 2025, while tankers in Northern California have until 2027.
