"Oceangoing vessels are among the dirtiest and fastest-growing sources of air pollution in the world," "the sheer number of these ships, coupled with operating practices that use fuel inefficiently and poor government oversight, results in carbon dioxide emissions" equal to the emissions of 130 million to 195 million cars.Emitting 3% of ALL the worlds greenhouse gasses with emissions projected to double in North America in the next decade.
California is where the most attention is being paid to limiting the exhaust ships spew and TODAY California changed everything....
Last week I was a little hard on California's decision to sue the EPA... but this week a press release has me all warm and fuzzy about cutting cargo emissions.
ARB approved measures to reduce pollution from commercial harbor craft by 50 percent by 2015
SACRAMENTO - The Air Resources Board today approved a measure designed to reduce harmful emissions from commercial ferries, excursion vessels such as dinner cruises and tour boats, tugs and towboats in California waters as much as 50 percent by 2015.
With this rule in place, ARB expects emissions of diesel soot and oxides of nitrogen, and their negative health impacts, to be reduced by 40-50 percent by 2015, and 60-70 percent by 2025, compared to 2004 levels. The new measure for commercial harbor craft does not include recreational or ocean-going vessels.
"Today's Board action brings new protection to the thousands of Californians who live and work in port communities," said ARB Chair Mary Nichols. "While harbor craft play a vital role at our ports and along our coast, they also contribute significantly to air emissions most responsible for premature death, respiratory illnesses, and increased risk of heart disease. With today's vote, ARB is now regulating yet another diesel source that has fouled California's air for years."
Roughly 3 tons of diesel soot and 73 tons of NOx are emitted from commercial harbor craft engines daily. A recent ARB study revealed that, for the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, commercial harbor craft is the third highest source of diesel soot emissions contributing to cancer risk at the ports. Statewide, approximately 90 premature deaths per year are associated with emissions from commercial harbor craft.
Read full release here: http://www.arb.ca.gov/newsrel/nr111507.htm