Fact Sheet
California Air Resources Board
May 2008
Regulated California Waters means:
All internal waters, estuarine waters,
ports, and coastal waters within 24
nautical miles of the California coast.
Commercial Harbor Craft Regulation
On November 15, 2007, the California Air Resources Board (ARB) approved a
regulation to reduce emissions from diesel engines on commercial harbor craft
vessels. The regulation is expected to significantly reduce diesel particulate matter
(PM) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emissions from harbor craft engines.
What types of vessels are subject to this regulation?
The regulation applies to all commercial harbor craft vessels including, but not
limited to, ferries, excursion vessels, tugboats, towboats, crew and supply vessels,
work boats, pilot vessels, and commercial and charter fishing boats. There are about 4,200 harbor craft vessels,
and 8,300 diesel engines on these vessels, currently in use in California. Of these, nearly 600 are ferries,
excursion vessels, tugboats, and towboats equipped with about 1,900 propulsion and auxiliary engines that will be
subject to in-use engine emission limits.
What does the commercial harbor craft regulation require?
The regulation, effective January 1, 2009, includes requirements for
both new and in-use diesel engines used on commercial harbor craft
operating in Regulated California Waters including internal,
estuarine, and coastal waters. Below is a brief discussion of these
requirements; specific details can be found in the regulation, which
is available online at
http://www.arb.ca.gov/regact/2007/chc07/chc07.htm.
Operational Requirements for All Commercial Harbor Craft
Commercial harbor craft owner/operators will be required to keep records for each vessel and install (if not
already installed) a non-resettable hour meter on each engine. All owner/operators will be required to submit an
initial report to the ARB by February 28, 2009. Vessel owner/operators will need to keep a copy of their i