California Adopts Stiff Pollution Rules for Ships

Almost half of all freight headed to the US passes through California, and starting in 2009, large ships operating within 24 nautical miles of the state’s coast will be required to burn a special low-sulfur diesel rather than cheaper fuels. The ruling applies to container ships, oil tankers and cruise ships. “Because prevailing winds blow from west to east in California, ship exhaust accounts for about a fifth of cancer-causing soot particles and half of the sulfur oxides over land,” reports Margot Roosevelt for the Los Angeles Times. The board estimates that the new regulation will cost the shipping industry up to $360 million, but will save the state up to $6 billion in related health costs. A typical cargo ship will pay about $30,000 more in fuel costs, about $6 per container, Roosevelt explains. Shippers oppose the regulation, arguing that California lacks jurisdiction and Asia lacks the special fuel. California sets trends in many areas, and the move will likely nudge other states and countries to take similar actions. – YaleGlobal