Shipping Goes Up, Pollution Goes Down: U.S. EPA Issues Final Rule for Diesel Emissions

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U.S. EPA issues new rule to cut diesel emissions from large ships.Diesel pollution from the shipping industry should be expected to soar in the near future as shipping traffic increases, but the U.S. EPA has just taken an important step toward nipping the emissions trend in the bud.  On December 22 the agency announced that it has finalized a tougher rule for engines and fuel on U.S.-flagged ships, bringing this country in accord with more sustainable international standards.

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The new rule is part of an overall effort to reduce diesel emissions and other forms of air pollution along the coasts of Canada and the U.S.  It is an early Christmas present for port cities, which are most directly affected by diesel emissions from ships.  It is also expected to have a positive impact on air quality in inland areas as well, affecting millions of U.S residents.

More Shipping, Not More Pollution

The EPA rule is also part of an international strategy to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides and particulate matter from large ships such as cargo ships and oil tankers.  Once fully implemented, the effort is expected to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by 80 percent and particulate matter emissions by 85%, despite the anticipated increase in shipping traffic.  The EPA estimates that the cost of implementing the new rules is about $3 billion, which will be far outweighed by the $270 billion value of the anticipated health benefits.

U.S EPA, Coastal Communities, and International Shipping

The new diesel emissions rules affect the large “Category 3” diesel engines, which are the main propulsion engines on most ocean-going ships.  The rule-making process also involves designating an official Emissions Control Area for thousands miles of coastline in the U.S. and Canada.  The formal designation is needed in order to enable the U.S. EPA rule to affect ships other than those with U.S. flags.  In March 2010, a United Nations agency is scheduled to vote on adopting the EPA rules.  That move would in effect place the EPA standards on all ships operating in the designated area, whether domestic or foreign.

Cleaner Ships on the Horizon

Reducing emissions from diesel engines is only part of the maritime industry’s turn toward more sustainable practices.  Some companies are even experimenting with a return to wind powered shipping.  Controlling the buildup of barnacles and other organisms on ship’s hulls is another important means of increasing efficiency and reducing emissions.  The U.S. Navy and the University of Florida are among the research institutions developing more sustainable biocides and high-tech coatings that would be more effective and less toxic than the chemicals currently in use.

Image: Emissions from cargo ship by robylab, on flickr.com.


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Tina Casey

Tina specializes in advanced energy technology, military sustainability, emerging materials, biofuels, ESG and related policy and political matters. Views expressed are her own. Follow her on LinkedIn, Threads, or Bluesky.

Tina Casey has 3142 posts and counting. See all posts by Tina Casey

7 thoughts on “Shipping Goes Up, Pollution Goes Down: U.S. EPA Issues Final Rule for Diesel Emissions

  • The US Navy already has more than 55 years worth of experience in building and operation completely emission free vessels. Nuclear power is clean enough to seal inside submarines and it is far more reliable and effective for propelling useful ships than wind.

  • The US Navy already has more than 55 years worth of experience in building and operation completely emission free vessels. Nuclear power is clean enough to seal inside submarines and it is far more reliable and effective for propelling useful ships than wind.

  • This is great news but the part about this only applying to US flag ships is somewhat troublesome. This should apply to all ship calling into US ports. Seems to me that’s a pretty big loophole, one that the shipping industry will be quick to exploit.

  • This is great news but the part about this only applying to US flag ships is somewhat troublesome. This should apply to all ship calling into US ports. Seems to me that’s a pretty big loophole, one that the shipping industry will be quick to exploit.

  • If the cheap nasty sulfur rich bunker oil is only eliminated in coastal areas, it will have little effect on the overall picture if it can be used on the high seas. If this bunker oil is eliminated altogether, the price of oil would have to rise to allow these ships to use more refined oil, and what then happens to the bunker oil?

    The only practical long term solution is for larger ships to go nuclear of course which is easy for the navies to do with aircraft carriers which are pretty well guarded. If merchant ships were to go nuclear, they would need to be armed or would need to use a non weapon friendly nuclear power such as thorium power.

    Funnily enough a nuclear battery is already available from Toshiba and a few others that are about the right size to power large ships, maybe even smaller ones.

  • If the cheap nasty sulfur rich bunker oil is only eliminated in coastal areas, it will have little effect on the overall picture if it can be used on the high seas. If this bunker oil is eliminated altogether, the price of oil would have to rise to allow these ships to use more refined oil, and what then happens to the bunker oil?

    The only practical long term solution is for larger ships to go nuclear of course which is easy for the navies to do with aircraft carriers which are pretty well guarded. If merchant ships were to go nuclear, they would need to be armed or would need to use a non weapon friendly nuclear power such as thorium power.

    Funnily enough a nuclear battery is already available from Toshiba and a few others that are about the right size to power large ships, maybe even smaller ones.

  • When this Old World starts getting you down. From Pollution the cost of OIL,
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    The Wicked keep putting higher taxes on everything. Making it a Heavy
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    the air we breath full of Toxic Gases, Sulfur Dioxide and more Radioactive
    and Acid Rain. Injuring all living things on Earth.

    With Fred Flintstones to the Rescue. To help create a Healthier Environment.
    For all Future Generations. By spotlighting Renewable Energy and Free Energy
    like Wind and Solar. On his and his neighbor Barny Rubble’s roof. Even though
    the greedy wicked would do everything to stop or slow them down.

    Just imagine a dream that a 100 years ago one of the smartest man to ever
    live had. A dream after working with Sun Light. That all on Earth would use
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    Solar Energy World wide was very possible. Both of these two wise men had
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    this Brilliant scientist was awarded it in 1922 for the 1921 year.

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    other accomplishments. For years most Governments did not have a ear for
    Einstein’s Dream.

    Archimedes around 250 B.C. was know most of the World over as a great
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    we call it The LASER, Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission. Back then it
    was just called Amplification of the SUN Archimedes Death Ray.

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    In New york at Christie’s Auction House.

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    Viewed by Scientist around the World.

    Sad that for the last 25 years or so of every teacher asked no matter what
    Grade k through 16. 80% of them did not know Archimedes. Even sadder 90%
    of them could not tell you what one of the most Brilliant Scientist to ever
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    It was for the work Albert Einstein did to show the World it could get
    Free Energy, Electric from the SUN. PHOTOVOLTAICS

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    I can only ask you to please look into Solar Energy, Solar Power, Solar Panels
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    More then 10 years ago the Internet became most of the World’s Universities
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    The Solar Energy Industry in the year 2010 has leaped ahead farther and
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    The strong benefits of Solar Energy is Clear Clean Air viewed in major cities
    as improving air quality. Clean Cities. By all that use there brain for good .
    View it as protecting the environment and Freedom from OIL.

    While the Federal Government has eased the Tax on Renewable Energy till the end
    of this year 2011. Some cities in the states that these Legislators come from have
    worked against these tax credits.

    By doing so they are showing their true objectives. That they have stock in some power plants and do not want to lose all that Money they have been taking out of your pocket books for too many years. By taxing you on your Energy Bills. They want to Control Power and Tax Everything they can. Not let People be free to get their own power from the top of their own roofs.

    By adding their own taxes to them. These wicked leaders think that this will take away the incentives to harvest the Free Energy from the Sun.

    The Public ability and awareness for all on Earth to use the Natural Solar Energy, is Contributing to Production of Solar Energy Products. Making the Solar Energy Industry the fastest growing on Earth. A Wealth of Free Energy From The SUN.

    The more the wicked try to slow the Solar Energy Industry down, it only Enhances
    involvement and the efforts of the Good at Heart.

    GOD Bless you for reading this.

    The Lord’s little Helper
    Paul Felix Schott

    PS
    through out History Many have tried to wipe the good from our history books.
    Read the Bible Jesus will Bless you more then i can.

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