ABS to help California reduce harbour craft emissions

The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) says it will provide technical support for implementing new requirements under the Commercial Harbor Craft Regulation.

PHOTO: An aerial view of Long Beach and Los Angeles ports in southern California, US. Getty Images

The regulation requires most harbour craft vessels, such as workboats and pilot boats, to meet performance standards to lower emissions and use diesel particulate filters. It also requires some vessel categories to adopt advanced zero-emission technology.

The amended regulation came into effect on 1 January this year.

ABS will evaluate vessels’ feasibility for modification considering their designs and compliance eligibility. The ABS Global Sustainability Center in Houston is leading this project, scheduled to conclude in March 2025.

“ABS is working with vessels all over the world, supporting owners and operators to adapt assets to comply with evolving sustainability regulatory demands and has developed deep domain expertise,” ABS vice president global sustainability Georgios Plevrakis says.

The classification society will share its insight with the California Air Resources Board, an agency under the government of California, to implement the regulation.

By Shilpa Sharma

Please get in touch with comments or additional info to news@engine.online