Expanded emissions regulations in California ports from 1 January 2025
To reduce emissions from oceangoing vessels while in port, the 2020 CARB* At-Berth Regulation will require tanker and Ro-Ro vessels to use a CARB Approved Emission Control Strategy (CAECS) while at berth in California ports starting from 1 January 2025.
Relevant for ship owners and managers with Ro-Ro and tanker vessels calling California ports and terminals.
Regulatory background
2007 At-Berth Regulation
The original 2007 At-Berth Regulation applied to container ships, passenger ships and refrigerated-cargo ships at certain California ports. Compliance with the 2007 regulation started in 2014.
2020 At-Berth Regulation
The 2020 At-Berth Regulation requires all oceangoing vessel operators and terminal operators to report each visit made to any California marine terminal. However, only container, refrigerated cargo and cruise vessels have emissions control requirements.
Starting from 1 January 2025, compliance with emissions control requirements shall apply to the following:
- Tanker vessels visiting terminals in the Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach
- Ro-Ro vessels visiting any California terminal
Bulk and general cargo vessels do not have emissions control requirements, but they do have visit reporting requirements that began 1 January 2023. The 2020 regulation took effect on 1 January 2021; however, emissions control requirements in the 2020 regulation will phase in according to Table 1 below.
| Compliance start | Vessel type |
| 1 January 2023 | Container and refrigerated cargo vessels |
| 1 January 2023 | Cruise (passenger) vessels |
| 1 January 2025 | Ro-Ro vessels (including vehicle carriers) |
| 1 January 2025 | Tanker vessels visiting Port of Los Angeles or Port of Long Beach terminals |
| 1 January 2027 | Tanker vessels visiting any California terminal |
Table 1: CARB 2020 At-Berth Regulation compliance start date based on vessel type
Compliance
Regulated emissions are nitrogen oxide (NOx), particulate matter 2.5 (PM 2.5) and reactive organic gases (ROG). The primary regulated parties are the vessel operators, terminal operators, California ports and CAECS operators.
Vessels and other regulated parties have the following options for compliance:
- Connection to onshore power (OPS) while at berth (see
Appendix in the pdf) - Use of a CARB-approved exhaust capture and control
system. There are currently two companies (STAX Engineering
and Clean Air Engineering Maritime) with plans to
have an approved barge-based exhaust capture solution
for tankers available by 1 January 2025 (see Appendix in the pdf). - Payment into a Remediation Fund. The payment into the fund cannot be triggered solely from lack of available alternative CAECS (a vessel needs to show eligibility and get approval).
- Alternative fuels (e.g. LNG), with the need to provide testing data that emission rates meet the 2020 At-Berth Regulation performance standard.
- An innovative concept solution that achieves equivalent emissions reduction from other sources around the port.
Enforcement
CARB has an Enforcement Penalty Policy** and will investigate any potential violation. If a company is deemed to be in non-compliance, a Notice of Violation may be issued. A financial penalty could be the result after each violation. The penalty for non-compliance can be imposed on all regulated parties, including the vessel operators.
Recommendations
Tankers calling at Port of Long Beach and Port of Los Angeles terminals in 2025 and Ro-Ro vessels at any California terminal will need to prepare for compliance. There are currently no indications that enforcement of the regulation will be delayed.
References
Contact
- For customers:
DATE - Direct Access to Technical Experts via My Services on Veracity. - Otherwise:
Use our office locator to find the nearest DNV office.
*California Air Resources Board – a part of the California Environmental Protection Agency and in the Executive Branch of California State Government
** Enforcement Policy | California Air Resources Board (https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/resources/documents/enforcement-policy)
